CLEVELAND — Bobby Bradley homered leading off the ninth inning as the Cleveland Indians overcame some brutal baserunning that led to manager Terry Francona’s ejection for a 2-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.
Bradley drove a 1-2 pitch from Jake Brentz (2-2) over the wall in right-center for his 10th homer as the Indians got their second straight walk-off win, touching off another wild celebration inside Progressive Field.
On Thursday, Franmil Reyes’ three-run homer in the ninth ended Cleveland’s nine-game losing streak.
James Karinchak (6-2) got his second win in two nights, steering around a leadoff double in the ninth.
Jorge Soler homered for the Royals, who have dropped 14 of 17 to fall a season-worst 16 games under .500.
Cleveland got a terrific start from Triston McKenzie, who struck out nine in a career-high seven innings.
Before Bradley’s heroics, the Indians were positioned to break a 1-1 tie in eighth — but literally ran themselves out of the inning.
Daniel Johnson led off with a soft liner that fell between Royals outfielders Andrew Benetendi and Michael A. Taylor for his first hit this season. Taylor made things worse by throwing behind Johnson, who took second when the ball got past first baseman Carlos Santana.
César Hernández followed with a single to get Johnson to third, and that’s where the fun started.
Amed Rosario hit a grounder to Royals shortstop Nicky Lopez, who trapped Johnson in a rundown between home and third. Johnson stayed alive long enough for Hernández to get to third. But as both were being tagged by Royals All-Star catcher Salvador Perez, Johnson, who was entitled to the base, stepped off and third base umpire James Hoye called both runners out.
Francona asked for an explanation on the odd double play. And when he didn’t like what he heard, Francona profanely laid into Hoye before being ejected for the first time this season.
Rosario ended up stranded at second.
McKenzie blanked the Royals on just one hit. The 23-year-old, who has spent the season yo-yoing back and forth from the minors, was at 85 pitches when Francona turned things over to his bullpen in the eighth.
Emmanuel Clase couldn’t protect the lead or McKenzie’s win, however, as Soler mashed an 0-1 pitch over the wall in left to tie it 1-1.
McKenzie’s solid outing was the just the second time in 26 games that Cleveland, whose rotation has been shredded by injuries all season, had a starter go six innings.
Royals starter Brad Keller was nearly as sharp as McKenzie, limiting the Indians to one run and four hits in 7 2/3 innings.
TRADE DONE
The Indians acquired right-hander Damon Casetta-Stubbs from Seattle to complete the June 10 trade that sent first baseman Jake Bauers to the Mariners. The 21-year-old has been pitching in A ball.
ONE TO GO
Santana homered twice against the Indians on Thursday, his first homers against his former team. He has now homered against 29 of 30 active franchises. The only exception are the Dodgers, who originally signed him in 2004.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Indians: RHP Shane Bieber began throwing with weighted balls as he continues to recover from shoulder soreness. The reigning AL Cy Young winner will be further evaluated over the weekend and the medical staff will decide what’s next. He’s been sidelined since June 14. … OF Jordan Luplow (sprained ankle) is scheduled to start playing in games in Arizona next week and will go to Triple-A Columbus before a possible return.
UP NEXT
Indians RHP Cal Quantrill (0-2) will start Saturday against Royals RHP Mike Minor (6-7), who is 3-0 with a 1.26 ERA in nine appearances against Cleveland.
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