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y this season and has responded by scoring 20 or more
Topic Started: Apr 14 2014, 05:39 AM (7 Views)
jinpan1234
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Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Shelley Duncan hit a pair of home runs and drove in five to back 5 1/3 solid innings from Jeanmar Gomez, as the Cleveland Indians held off the Kansas City Royals, 9-6, in the rubber match of a three-game series. Cleveland shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera returned to the lineup and knocked in two runs. Cabrera sat out Saturdays game after fouling a pitch off his left knee in the series opener. Gomez (2-2) gave up one run on six hits to pick up the win. He walked three and struck out two for the Indians, who start a key three-game series with the AL Central-leading Tigers on Monday. "It was nice getting that big lead for once," Duncan said. "We havent done that in awhile. Lately, weve been putting our bullpen in a position where they save us every single game. It was nice to give them a chance and our defense a chance with somewhat of a cushion." Johnny Giavotella and Eric Hosmer each knocked in two runs for the Royals, who have lost four of six. Jeff Francis (5-15) allowed four runs on nine hits over five innings to take the loss. He walked three batters. The Indians took control of the game from the start. Kosuke Fukudome hit a one-out double in the first inning to get Clevelands offense going. Carlos Santana and Duncan walked to load the bases with two outs. Jason Donald followed with an RBI single to right. Santana also tried to score on the play, but was thrown out at home. Cleveland tacked on three more runs in the second to build an early 4-0 lead. Jack Hannahan doubled and Lou Marson singled in front of Jerad Heads RBI double. Two outs later, Cabrera hit a two-run double to left. Kansas City finally got on the board in the fourth. Hosmer led off with a double and moved to third on Giavotellas groundout. Hosmer crossed the plate when Mike Moustakas reached first on third baseman Lonnie Chisenhalls fielding error. Brayan Pena grounded into a double play to keep it a 4-1 contest. Duncans homer in the sixth gave the Indians some more breathing room. Tim Collins walked Ezequiel Carrera and Cabrera before Jesse Chavez came in from the bullpen. Santana grounded into a fielders choice to put men on the corners. Duncan stepped to the plate and crushed Chavezs offering over the wall in left for a 7-1 margin. The Royals loaded the bases with one out in the sixth. Rafael Perez was called in from the bullpen to get out of the jam. He did just that by getting Pena to ground into a double play. Melky Cabrera and Giavotella each drove in a run for Kansas City in the seventh to make it 7-3. Duncan got both the runs back with a two-run homer in the eighth. The Royals scored three runs in the ninth to account for the final margin. With runners on second and third and one out, Hosmer hit a two-run single to right off Frank Herrmann. Giavotella followed with a run-scoring base hit to right. Chris Perez got the final two outs of the inning for his 32nd save of the season. "Theyre in the playoff race for a reason," Royals outfielder Mitch Maier said. "Theyve got a pretty good team. Obviously, there were some games we should have won against them and didnt, but theres a reason theyre in the hunt." Game Notes Cleveland took 12 of 18 games from Kansas City this season...The Royals were without shortstop Alcides Escobar (ankle)...Indians third baseman Hannahan left the game with left calf tightness. SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- It certainly wasnt an ideal way to start an important road trip. The Washington Wizards squandered an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter and eventually lost in overtime to the lowly Sacramento Kings. Isaiah Thomas had his first career triple double with 24 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists to help the Kings beat the Wizards 117-111 in overtime on Tuesday night. DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay each added 24 points for the Kings, who rallied in the fourth to send the game into overtime and simply outplayed the Wizard in the extra period to snap a two-game losing streak. Veteran centre Marcin Gortat felt the Wizards let up late in regulation and it cost them a victory. "We were up five points (with 24 seconds left) and celebrating like we had already won the game," said Gortat, who had a physical battle all game with Cousins, the Kings highly aggressive young centre. "We loosened up way too much. We got punished for being too cocky." It was a rare loss for the Wizards, who had won 10 of 13 games before falling to the Kings for the fourth straight time at Sleep Train Arena. After being quiet through three quarters, it was Gay and Cousins delivering big time for the Kings in both the fourth period and overtime. Cousins, who finished with 14 rebounds, had 12 points in the fourth quarter and opened the overtime with two quick baskets and finished with seven points in OT. Gay made numerous clutch shots late in the game and continued that trend in the fourth quarter. He had 10 points in the fourth and six more in overtime. "To turn it around, go up by 11 points and give the game away, it hurts," said Drew Gooden, who scored 18 points in a reserve role. "They executed down the stretch and we couldnt get any rebounds. DeMarcus Cousins is a load." Bradley Beal had 19 points and Gortat also had 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Wizards. They had won six of their previous seven road games. John Wall had 14 before fouling out in overtime. The loss prevented Washington from moving within a game of Chicago, which has the fourth best record in the Eastern Conference. The Wizards (35-32) drop to sixth in tthe East, one percentage point behind Brooklyn (34-31).dddddddddddd. "Give (Washington coach) Randy Wittman and that team a lot of credit. They are one of the surprising teams in the Eastern Conference and they are trying to get a home-court advantage in the first round," Kings coach Michael Malone said. Gay broke a tie with a jumper and Thomas made a pair of free throws to give Sacramento a 115-111 lead with 13 seconds left. Thomas clinched the victory with two free throws in the closing seconds. Thomas, a 5-foot-9 guard who was a second-round draft pick three years ago, became the Kings starting point guard early this season and has responded by scoring 20 or more points 42 times this season. The triple-double was the first for Sacramento since Cousins had had one against New York on Dec. 28, 2012. "That was big and its great for Isaiah," Gay said. "Im proud of him for the fact that he effected the game in every successful category today. Size doesnt matter. He plays with fire." Trailing by five points in overtime, Ariza hit a 3, Wall converted on a fastbreak layup and Beal made a 3-pointer, giving Washington a 109-107 lead. But consecutive baskets by Cousins and Gay put the Kings ahead by two with 1:01 left. Beal made both free throws to put the Wizards in front 100-95. But a Thomas three and a running shot along the baseline by Gay tied the game at 100 with 5.6 seconds remaining. Beal missed a jumper in the final seconds. Washington started the fourth quarter with eight straight points to take an 81-70 lead. Cousins helped bring the Kings back, scoring eight consecutive points, the final two on a dunk that cut the Washington lead to 86-81 midway through the fourth. NOTES: The Washington starters shot 5 of 20 in the opening quarter and the Wizards trailed 30-19. ... Prior the game, the Kings signed Royce White to a second 10-day contact. He was not activated for the game. White, who was drafted by Houston in 2012, has been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and has never played an NBA game. ... Webster had a four-point play late in the third quarter. ... The Kings are 4-2 in overtime games this season, while the Wizards are 4-7. ' ' '
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