CLEVELAND -- Eric Hosmer drove in four runs, Kendrys Morales added three RBI and the Kansas City Royals opened a 10-game road trip with a 9-4 victory over the spiraling Cleveland Indians on Monday night.
Hosmer connected for a three-run home run in the first inning off rookie Cody Anderson (2-2) as the Royals rolled to their American League-leading 60th victory and improved to 15-5 in their past 20 games.
Edinson Volquez (10-5) worked into the seventh inning for Kansas City, which will welcome newly acquired ace Johnny Cueto today.
Rookie Francisco Lindor hit a three-run home run and Carlos Santana had a solo shot for the Indians, who have dropped five in a row.
Before landing Cueto in a trade from Cincinnati, Volquez was as close as the Royals had to a top-tier starter. The right-hander is 8-2 in his past 14 starts and 19-6 since June 20 of last season. He allowed 3 runs and 6 hits, getting pulled after allowing 2 walks to open the seventh.
Joe Blanton gave up Lindor's home run, but worked three innings for his second save.
The Indians have lost seven in a row at home, and haven't had the lead while being outscored 35-9 during this current seven-game homestand.
After being swept in a four-game series by the Chicago White Sox and falling into last place in the AL Central, Indians Manager Terry Francona held a lengthy closed-door meeting Sunday during which players aired their frustrations about a season slipping away. All-Star second baseman Jason Kipnis said one of the team's problems was a lack of accountability.
On Monday, Kipnis clarified he was not referring to his manager.
"That comment had nothing with Tito," Kipnis said. "Tito is our manager -- he's not a baby sitter."
Riding the momentum of their deal for Cueto, the Royals wasted no time getting to Anderson, who was coming off his shortest outing this season.
Mike Moustakas singled with one out in the first, Lorenzo Cain walked and Hosmer, who is batting .390 (16 of 41) with 4 home runs and 17 RBI against Cleveland this season, followed with a 421-foot home run to left-center to make it 3-0.
Kansas City made it 4-0 in the second when Omar Infante connected for his first home run in 336 at-bats this season.
Anderson responded by hitting Jarrod Dyson in the leg with his next pitch, prompting plate umpire Lance Barksdale to issue a warning to both dugouts. Several Royals players standing on the step hollered in Anderson's direction.
Santana got a run back in the second with his 11th home run, a 433-foot blast to center that cleared a row of shrubs.
But the Royals added three runs in the fifth on Hosmer's RBI single and a two-run double by Morales, who has 11 RBI against Cleveland in 2015.
Sports on 07/28/2015