CLEVELAND (AP) — Danny Duffy pitched four-hit ball into the sixth inning and snapped a winless streak of nearly six years in Cleveland as the Kansas City Royals beat the Indians 3-0 on Wednesday night.
Adalberto Mondesi had an RBI single in the sixth and Edward Olivares and Nicky Lopez drove in runs in the ninth, giving the Royals their second straight victory after starting September with seven losses.
Duffy (3-3) struck out four and walked four over 5 2/3 innings to win for the first time at Cleveland in eight starts since Sept. 22, 2014. The left-hander was 0-6 at Progressive Field during that span.
“That’s a really good team over there, top to bottom,” said Duffy, who is 4-12 with a 5.11 ERA in his career against the Indians. “You have to respect that lineup, and I have a lot of respect for that team and the way they play the game.”
Jesse Hahn, Josh Staumont and Greg Holland completed a six-hitter as Cleveland left 10 on base. It was Holland’s third save in three chances.
“I know those are some arms that the league is not looking forward to facing,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said. “(Holland) continues to make really good pitches and his stuff just keeps impressing me. He’s in a really good place.”
The Indians only threatened once against Duffy, loading the bases with one out in the fifth before Francisco Lindor was retired on a short fly to center and Carlos Santana struck out.
“I think we were trying too hard to put the ball into play in that situation,” acting Cleveland manager Sandy Alomar Jr. said.
Mondesi broke the ice against Carlos Carrasco (2-4), driving in Cam Gallagher with no outs in the sixth. Kansas City scored twice off Phil Maton in the ninth when Olivares’ bad-hop triple plated Alex Gordon, and Olivares then came around on Lopez’s single.
Carrasco gave up seven hits in a season-high seven innings while wearing No. 21 as part of the MLB-wide celebration of Roberto Clemente Day. He won the 2019 Roberto Clemente Award for his numerous community endeavors.
The right-hander had six strikeouts, moving into fourth place in Indians history with 1,281. He surpassed Hall of Famers Bob Lemon and Early Wynn, who both had 1,277.
“It was an honor to wear No. 21 today for a lot of reasons,” Carrasco said. “Roberto Clemente was great, on and off the field.”
Delino DeShields went 3 for 4 with a triple for Cleveland, which fell one game behind the first-place White Sox in the AL Central.
Lopez singled three times and Kansas City teammates Whit Merrifield and Olivares had two hits apiece. Olivares has a six-game hitting streak and is batting .385 since joining the Royals in a trade with San Diego.
Indians manager Terry Francona, who briefly visited the ballpark Tuesday, missed his 29th game because of season-long gastrointestinal issues that required surgery.
