CLEVELAND _ Sunday was only the second day this season in which Francisco Lindor and Michael Brantley were tabbed as the 1-2 hitters in the lineup. That duo turned out to be all the Indians' offense needed on Saturday in a 6-2 win over the Kansas City Royals.
Lindor and Brantley powered the offense from the top of the order, accounting for all six Indians runs, and that was all starter Mike Clevinger needed.
Lindor, in particular, had a monster game, slugging two home runs and two doubles to go with two RBIs and four runs scored. He now leads the team with 12 home runs and has 15 extra-base hits in 11 games this month.
Lindor also became the first Indians leadoff hitter with four extra-base hits in a game since Tito Francona, manager Terry Francona's late father, did so on July 3, 1964 against the Chicago White Sox.
Brantley finished with a three-hit game, two RBIs and two runs scored, raising his average to .342.
Clevinger (3-0, 2.70 ERA) was strong for 71/3 innings. He allowed two runs on eight hits, did not walk a batter and struck out five.
Twice the Royals (13-26) took a one-run lead against Clevinger, and twice the Lindor-Brantley tandem tied it. In the first, Lindor led off with a double and scored on Brantley's single to right field. In the third, Lindor belted the first of his two home runs to tie it 2-2.
Those two gave the Indians (19-19) their first lead in the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back doubles to lead off the inning. Yonder Alonso later singled home Brantley to extend the advantage to 4-2.
An inning later, Lindor launched home run No. 2 for the day. Brantley followed with a single and later scored on a single off the bat of Edwin Encarnacion.
