CLEVELAND Royals rookie outfielder Bubba Starling had nothing to work off of, other than a scouting report.
Cleveland Indians closer Brad Hands entry into the game typically serves as the signal to drive home safely. At that point, the outcome is a formality and resistance is futile.
Starling, a former fifth overall draft pick and local multisport star at Gardner Edgerton High, kept his plan of attack simple with his team down two in the ninth. Starling wanted to see it up and get a good pitch.
Starling saw it up and got all of it. He pulled a 2-2 fastball from Hand over the left-field wall and into the waiting glove of a spectator decked out in Royals gear for the first major-league home run of his brief career. The ball was retrieved after the game.
I missed a few early on his fastball and wanted to stay on it in case he tried to blow one by me, Starling said. I stayed on it and put a good swing on it.
Unfortunately for Starling and his teammates, that solo homer only pulled the Royals within a run. Despite Starlings blast, the Royals fell 5-4 in front of an announced 23,564 in the final game of a three-game set at Progressive Field. Hand, voted to his third consecutive All-Star Game this summer, converted his AL-leading 27th save in 28 tries.
The victory gave the Indians (57-41) the series win after the Royals evened it Saturday night. The teams will see each other again very soon. The Royals play two in Atlanta on Tuesday and Wednesday, but then theyll start a four-game series Thursday against the Indians in Kansas City.
Outfielder Jorge Soler had a standout game both offensively and defensively for the Royals (37-62). He came into the day tied for third in the AL in home runs, and he hit his 27th of the season. Soler, who went 3 for 3, also made a home run-robbing catch.
Cheslor Cuthbert went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs.
Royals pitcher Glenn Sparkman put together a career night the previous time he took the mound, checking off his first complete game, first shutout and a career-high in strikeouts July 20.
Sunday, Sparkman (3-6) allowed five runs on nine hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings. Two of the nine hits he allowed were home runs.
The Royals led 2-0 going into the bottom of third when Humberto Arteagas throwing error put the leadoff man on base. Two batters later, Francisco Lindor snapped Sparkmans scoreless innings streak at 15 when he blasted a two-run home run into the right-field stands to tie the score.
Solers catch in the fourth inning, ranging back and to his right before he jumped and reached over the wall in right-center field to snatch a home run away from Jason Kipnis, kept the score tied.
The score stayed that way until the sixth inning, when Jose Ramirez hit a deep drive to right-center field that nobody was bringing back. The solo homer gave the Indians their first lead, and Kevin Plaweckis RBI single later in the inning made it a 4-2 lead.
Cuthberts RBI single in the eighth got the Royals within two runs, 5-3. Starlings homer closed the scoring in the ninth.
