CLEVELAND _ The Kansas City Royals gave up two unearned runs in the first inning and were never within two runs after the bottom of the third as they dropped the rubber match of a three-game series with the Cleveland Indians 9-2, at Progressive Field Sunday afternoon.
The Royals went with recently acquired right-handed pitcher Ronald Bolanos as their "opener" for the first two innings in a bullpen-heavy pitching day.
Entering the game, Royals relief pitchers had pitched 8 2/3 scoreless innings and held the Indians to a .107 batting average (3-for-28) with nine strikeouts.
However, the Royals gave up runs in five of the first seven innings of the game.
Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco held the Royals to two runs on five hits in six innings. He struck out 10 and gave up just one walk.
Salvador Perez (1-for-3) and Whit Merrifield (1-for-3) each drove in a run, while Adalberto Mondesi and Maikel Franco doubled. The Royals struck out 15 times.
The Royals (1-2) will next travel to Detroit, where they'll start a four-game series with the Tigers Monday night. Left-handed pitcher Mike Montgomery is scheduled to start the first game.
