Rookie Whit Merrifield tripled and hit his first Major League homer, and Edinson Volquez tossed seven shutout innings as the Royals held on for a 2-1 win over the Indians on Monday night at Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals, who won their third straight after losing eight in a row, are now just two games back of the American League Central-leading Indians.
“Big game,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “This is a two-game swing here. We lose tonight and we’re back four. We win, we’re two back. Pulling out all the stops tonight.”
Volquez overcame a shaky start in which he walked the bases loaded in the first inning. He walked four overall, but gave up just two hits and struck out three. He gave the Royals their third straight fantastic start — Danny Duffy threw six shutout innings on Saturday and Yordano Ventura gave up one run over seven innings on Sunday.
“I keep [that] in mind,” Volquez said. “That’s what you want to do. As a team, some guy goes eight or seven innings and you’re up the next day. That’s what you want to do. You want to go seven or eight, too. Keep the game alive to give you a chance to win.”
Indians starter Carlos Carrasco labored through six innings, allowing 10 hits and a walk. But he gave up just two runs and struck out eight.
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