CLEVELAND: Danny Duffy pitched six innings of two-hit ball to beat a longtime nemesis and Whit Merrifield drove in all of Kansas City’s runs with a homer and sacrifice fly, main the Royals over the Cleveland Indians 3-0 on Monday.
The Indians performed their dwelling opener in entrance of followers for the primary time since 2019. The introduced attendance of 8,914 – 30% of ballpark capability was permitted was a pleasant change from final season, when followers couldnt attend as a result of COVID-19 pandemic and well being and security protocols.
Duffy (1-0) got here in with 12 profession losses in opposition to the Indians his most in opposition to any group. But the left-hander was in management from the outset and beat them for the fifth time.
Scott Barlow pitched two good innings and Jesse Hahn put two on within the ninth earlier than Royals first baseman Carlos Santana, who signed with the membership as a free agent this winter after 10 seasons in Cleveland, made a diving cease on Eddie Rosario’s smash to begin a double play.
Hahn then retired Franmil Reyes on a tough comebacker that caromed off the right-hander to finish Kansas City’s three-hit shutout and get the save.
Duffy has received three of his final 4 begins in opposition to the Indians since shedding eight straight, and he’s pitched 11 2-3 consecutive scoreless innings in his previous two outings versus Cleveland.
Merrifield linked for his third homer within the second inning off Indians starter Logan Allen (0-1). Merrifield added his sacrifice fly within the seventh.
A 3-run deficit was an excessive amount of for the Indians, who’ve scored two runs or much less in three of their first 4 video games.
The final time Cleveland performed in entrance of followers at Progressive Field was on Sept. 22, 2019, a 10-1 win over Philadelphia.
We missed the followers perhaps greater than they missed being right here, supervisor Terry Francona mentioned. “Playing in front of empty ballparks, it was better than not playing don’t get me wrong but having people here will really be welcomed.”
NAME PROTEST
More than a dozen protesters gathered exterior the ballpark to voice their displeasure on the Indians’ delay in altering their title. Cleveland proprietor Paul Dolan introduced in December the ballclub might be dropping Indians, its title since 1915, sooner or later.
That’s not quickly sufficient for Native American teams of have decried the title as being racist.
It’s completely disappointing, disheartening, however not shocking, mentioned Jeff Pierce, president of People Not Mascots. They’ve been saying they’re going to do that for the final 30 plus years, by no means been finished. I’ll consider it once I see it.
THE BEAT GOES ON
With longtime drummer and ballpark fixture John Adams recovering from well being points, Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney crammed in and pounded a gradual beat when the Indians batted.
Carney, who first attended Cleveland video games as a bit of boy, mentioned it was his first stay gig since Black Keys’ final present in January 2020.
ON THE OTHER SIDE
It didn’t take lengthy for Santana to make a robust impression on the Royals, who signed him to a three-year, $17.5 million deal.
“Just as a result of a child modifications uniforms, that doesn’t imply it’s going to alter the best way he behaves himself or acts, Francona mentioned. I definitely can’t root for him to beat us, however we’re not any much less keen on him as a result of he’s in a Royals uniform.
SPEED TRAP
Indians right-hander Emmanuel Clase unleashed a 101.2 mph fastball on his first pitch in Sunday’s win at Detroit. It was the quickest pitch recorded by a Cleveland pitcher since 2008, when pitches first started being tracked usually.
UP NEXT
Following an off day, Cy Young winner Shane Bieber will make his second begin of 2021 in opposition to the Royals, who haven’t but named a starter. Bieber struck out 12 in his season debut final week at Detroit.
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