Hosmer continues solid spring in loss to Tribe
First baseman homers as part of two-hit day; Guthrie fans five in three innings
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Eric Hosmer had two hits, including his second homer, and scored twice to pace the visiting Royals in a 12-6 loss to the Indians on Thursday afternoon at Goodyear Ballpark.
Jeremy Guthrie gave up three runs (two earned) while striking out five in three innings. Indians starter Zach McAllister scattered two runs over 3 1/3 innings.
Cleveland had nine baserunners in the first three innings against Guthrie, including its first three batters of the game. Michael Bourn walked to lead off before Nick Swisher and Jason Kipnis singled. A Guthrie throwing error helped give Cleveland the 2-0 lead.
Kansas City got one back in the second when Mike Moustakas singled to lead off the frame and scored on a grounder after a Lorenzo Cain single and a sacrifice bunt. Hosmer went deep to tie it in the third.
"It's just getting better every day, making adjustments. We're putting in the work," said Hosmer, who raised his average to .303. "Guys are working hard, and it's coming down to the crunch time now -- a couple weeks left. Just got to come in, be consistent with the work and just stay at it."
Cleveland took the lead once again in the bottom of the third when Kipnis was hit by a pitch and eventually came around to score on a Jeff Francoeur single. But Kansas City plated two more in the fifth when Hosmer doubled and scored on a Carlos Peguero single, and Moustakas drove in Billy Butler with a sacrifice fly. Ramon Hernandez also drove in a run in the sixth.
The Indians' bench players poured it on in the latter innings, plating four in the seventh and five in the eighth. Elliot Johnson homered as part of a two-hit effort.
Up next: Left-hander Danny Duffy, trying to keep pace with Yordano Ventura in their battle for the last rotation spot, will start for the Royals against the Athletics at 3:05 p.m. CT on Friday at Surprise Stadium. The game can be heard on royals.com in an exclusive webcast. So far, Ventura has a 2.89 ERA and Duffy is at 7.71, each after three outings. Also scheduled to pitch are Greg Holland, Tim Collins, Wade Davis, Aaron Crow and Louis Coleman -- pending, of course, how many innings Duffy throws. Left fielder Alex Gordon, after a day off, will be back in the lineup. The A's have Dan Straily, Dan Otero and Matt Buschmann lined up to pitch.