Indians Crown Royals again 8-5

When the Royals broke out with four runs in the top of the fifth, it appeared the game might be out of reach, but the Indians had a five run eighth, coming back from a 5-3 deficit to win 8-5 Wednesday night at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.

Zach Jackson made his second start for the Indians, and just like the first time, he came away with a no-decision. Jackson gave the Tribe seven innings, giving up five runs, four of them earned, while surrendering seven hits; most of those coming in the first and fifth innings.

In the first, he allowed three hits, but got out of the inning unscathed via the double play ball after the Royals loaded the bases. Mike Aviles, Esteban German, and David DeJesus all singled, bringing up Jose Guillen with nobody out. Guillen sac-flied in Aviles for the first run and out of the game.  

German moved up to third, putting runners at the corners with one out. Billy Butler saved Jackson’s bacon by grounding to Asdrubal Cabrera, who flipped to Jhonny Peralta turning a big inning into an inning-ending double play. The Indians broke on top in the bottom of the first after they hit into a double play of their own.

Grady Sizemore walked, but Gutierrez grounded into the double play. With two out, Ben Francisco was safe at first on an error by third baseman Alex Gordon. Peralta took advantage of the miscue by blasting 20th home run of the season and registering his 69th RBI of the year, giving the Tribe a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the second, Shoppach joined the homer-club-of-the-day, belting his 13th of the year and putting the Indians up 3-1. Jackson would throw zeroes until the fifth, when the Royals put up a four-spot for a 5-3 lead. They loaded up the bases again with nobody out on a pair of singles and a hit batsman.  

Aviles doubled, scoring all three runners. After a German fly-out, and a DeJesus strikeout, Avilesstole third, and came home on a Shoppach throwing error. In the bottom of the eighth, Shoppach atoned for his blunder by homering for the second time inn the game, his 14th of the year, making it 5-4 Royals.  

Shin-Soo Choo, the master of pinch hitting and drawing a walk, pinch hit and drew a walk. Cabrera sacrificed Choo to second, and the Royals brought in reliever Joakim Soria.  He walked Sizemore.  Franklin Gutierrez delivered the fourth Indians home run of the night, making it 7-4 Tribe.  

The Indians would tack on another run via Peralta being hit by a pitch, Dellucci walking, and Garko singling home Peralta.  Four of the five runs scored this inning were guys crossing the plate after being walked.  Jensen Lewis picked up his fourth save of the year. Gutierrez made a great diving catch on Gload for the first out.  

Lewis struck out Olivo, and finished the game on a Gordon lineout. The Indians go for the series sweep on Thursday, finishing off their home stand. Cliff Lee (17-2, 2.43 ERA) takes the mound hoping for his 18th win of the season. He’ll battle Royals righty Zack Greinke (9-8, 3.29 ERA). Game time is 12:05.

Could be a good day to play hooky, get the blue flu, or be Ferris Buehler.