KANSAS CITY http://www.raysfanproshop.com/authentic-dustin-mcgowan-jersey , Mo. (AP) — the Cleveland Indians were hoping for after rolling the dice in an Aug. 31 trade with the Toronto Blue Jays.Donaldson, a former AL MVP, hit a grand slam and double during a 10-run seventh inning, powering the Indians past the Kansas City Royals 14-6 Friday night.With the win, the AL Central champion Indians improved to 90-70, marking the third time in team history they’ve won at least 90 games in three straight seasons.“We should be winning 90 games with the team we’ve got in here and this division the way it is right now,” said Jason Kipnis, an eight-year veteran with the Indians. “It’s been ours to lose the last couple years and we don’t want to waste it.”Kipnis’ homer in the Cleveland third was the game’s only run in the first six innings.But the Indians then broke loose for their first 10-run inning since doing it on Sept. 30, 2012, against the Royals in Cleveland led by Donaldson, who struggled the first two months of the season, then missed three months with a left calf strain before the trade.If he can produced at the plate in the postseason Carlos Gomez Jersey , Donaldson could be a difference-maker for the Indians. Friday’s performance was the best evidence yet he’s close to the player who powered Toronto into the 2015 postseason.“Kind of stating the obvious, isn’t it?” manager Terry Francona said when asked if was good to see him drive the ball. “We don’t want him to make outs, but it’s nice to see him hitting the ball like that.”His leadoff double set the stage for a nine-hit inning, but it was his grand slam that ultimately delivered the game-winning runs.Still, it wasn’t Donaldson booming extra-base hits that keyed the rally, Francona said.“I thought it all kind of started with Kip laying a bunt down,” Francona said. “Little things turn into big things. You play the game right and you get rewarded for it.”After Donaldson’s double, Yonder Alonso hit an RBI single and Melky Cabrera followed with a hit that chased Royals starter Ian Kennedy (3-9).Kipnis, who made his 12th start in center field, greeted reliever Tim Hill by beating out a sacrifice bunt to third baseman Hunter Dozier for an infield single and the rout was on.“It always does that,” Kipnis said. “Sometimes, that’s exactly what the offense needs http://www.raysfanproshop.com/authentic-adeiny-hechavarria-jersey , where the little thing — the bunt over —- gets the big inning. We would have been happy with two runs . but you see what getting guys on and causing havoc on the bases and putting the ball in play does for an offense.”Roberto Perez added an RBI single before Francisco Lindor hit a chopper to first baseman Ryan O’Hearn against a drawn-in infield. A wild throw home let two more runs score.One out later, reliever Jake Newberry walked Jose Ramirez and gave up an RBI single to Edwin Encarnacion before Donaldson launched his fifth career grand slam and second this season. He also had one in April for the Blue Jays.Adam Rosales, who pinch-ran for Alonso earlier in the inning, doubled and later scored on a double by Greg Allen, who pinch-ran for Kipnis.The 10 runs were the most the Royals had allowed in an inning this season.It was a welcome outburst for the Indians, who had only scored two runs in the first 16 innings of the series and open the AL Division Series on next Friday at the Houston Astros.Mike Clevinger (13-8) was the beneficiary of the bonanza. He allowed one run on three hits in 6 2/3 innings.Clevinger finished the season with an even 200 innings for the first time in his career, which was a big personal goal for the 27-year-old right-hander.“Still, there’s a bigger goal than my 200 innings,” Clevinger said.His counterpart, Kennedy, went six strong innings before facing three batters in the seventh.“He threw the ball well,” manager Ned Yost said. “It just got away from us there.”Brian Goodwin hit a grand slam in the Royals ninth off Adam Plutko as part of a five-run inning. It was the second career grand slam for Goodwin Sergio Romo Jersey , acquired in a July trade with Washington. He also had one March 31 for the Nationals.Whit Merrifield extended his hitting streak to 18 games for the Royals. It’s the longest active streak in the majors and one shy of his career best.TRAINER’S ROOMIndians: Francona essentially ruled out INF Erik Gonzalez for the remainder of the weekend. He said Gonzalez, who was hit in the head by a pitch Wednesday at the Chicago White Sox, remains in concussion protocol. The team hopes Ramirez will be available for an intrasquad game Tuesday in preparation for the playoffs.NEXT UPReigning AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber (20-7, 2.83 ERA) will make his final appearance before the ALDS. RHP Jakob Junis (8-12, 4.42) is scheduled to start for the Royals. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Daniel Palka did a lot more than avoid a fifth consecutive strikeout.Palka hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the ninth inning and the Chicago White Sox completed their first three-game sweep in a year by beating the Tampa Bay Rays 8-7 on Sunday.It was Chicago’s first three-game sweep since Aug. 8-10, 2017 against Houston. The White Sox’s last three-game road sweep occurred April 25-27, 2016 at Toronto.Chicago also has a season-high four-game winning streak.“I think it just builds confidence for these guys,” Chicago manager Rick Renteria said. They’re starting to see that they can pick each other up.”Palka had struck out in each of his first four at-bats before connecting on his 17th homer off Diego Castillo (2-2) with two outs.“I was jokingly saying earlier that I was just trying to make contact, but that’s really what I was doing,” Palka said. “I just had to forget the first eight-ninths of the game and move on from there.”It was the sixth time since 1908 that a White Sox player has homered and struck out at least four times in a game, according to Baseball Reference. Alex Avila last did it on Sept. 5 Matt Duffy Jersey , 2016 against Detroit.Hector Santiago (4-3) went the final 1 1/3 innings for the win.C.J Cron had a leadoff double in the ninth off Santiago and scored one out later on Kevin Kiermaier’s two-base hit. After Brandon Lowe walked, Jesus Sucre hit into a double play.Tampa Bay tops the majors in one-run losses (26) and one-run games (46).“They did things to take advantage of opportunities and ultimately found ways to win all three games,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.Avisail Garcia had a solo homer in a two-run fifth and made it 6-4 on another solo shot during the seventh for the White Sox. It was his eighth career multi-homer game.Ji-Man Choi tied it at 6-all with a two-run single in the seventh, an inning that saw the White Sox use four relievers.Chicago starter James Shields left with a two-run lead but was denied his first road win since opening day. The one-time Tampa Bay ace threw a season-high 114 pitches, allowing four runs, five hits and four walks over six innings.“I really didn’t have anything, to be honest with you,” Shields said. “I had no feel for the baseball.”The Rays honored their 2008 AL championship team, which Shields was on, this weekend.“This whole weekend was very special for me personally, to come and see the boys from 2008 and celebrate,” Shields said.Tim Anderson had two RBI singles for the White Sox.Joey Wendle had three hits http://www.raysfanproshop.com/authentic-steven-souza-jersey , including a first-inning RBI single and a solo homer in the fifth that pulled the Rays within 5-4.TRAINER’S ROOMWHITE SOX: CF Leury Garcia left with left hamstring soreness and will evaluated Monday.Rays: INF Daniel Robertson saw a hand specialist and will have what is expected to be season-ending surgery this week on his sprained left thumb. He was hurt sliding into second on a double Friday night. “It’s disappointing, very disappointing,” Robertson said. . LHP Blake Snell (left shoulder fatigue) reported no issues after making his first start Saturday since the All-Star Game on July 17th. He also downplayed any concern about his lower leg, which was struck by Jose Abreu’s first-inning single, saying it was fine.LINEUP CHANGEMallex Smith replaced struggling Kiermaier as the Rays’ leadoff hitter and went 4 for 5. Smith is hitting .299 with a .369 on-base percentage, compared to Kiermaier’s .189 average and .269 O-B-P. “KK has been really accountable,” Cash said. “He was actually the one who came up and said ‘I don’t feel like I’m getting it done.'” Kiermaier was dropped to sixth and doubled in four at-bats and walked once.UP NEXTWhite Sox: RHP Dylan Covey (4-7) will face New York Yankees RHP Lance Lynn (7-8) Monday night.Rays: RHP Tyler Glasnow (0-0) will make his second since being acquired from Pittsburgh in the Chris Archer trade against Baltimore Tuesday night.
