KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Legendary groundskeeper George Toma was inducted as the 25th member of the Royals Hall of Fame, and the Kansas City Royals outlasted the Cleveland Indians 6-3 on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium.
Toma was the head groundskeeper for the Royals from 1969 through 1995.
The Royals (69-81, 35-41 home) have now won six straight over the A.L. Central’s last-place Indians (62-89, 28-48 away).
Kansas City jumped out to a 2-0 lead after RBI singles from catcher Brayan Pena and second baseman Irving Falu in the second inning. Mike Moustakas added a pair of RBI’s in the third and fifth innings to put the Royals up 4-1.
Indians catcher Carlos Santana narrowed the gap to 4-3 after a two-run RBI single in the seventh. The Royals responded with two runs in the eighth, taking a 6-3 lead on Pena’s RBI double.
Starter Luis Mendoza (8-9, 4.44 ERA) gave up two runs on eight hits in 6 innings, striking out three and walking two. Indians starter Justin Masterson (11-15, 4.97 ERA) earned the loss, surrendering four runs on seven hits in 6 innings, fanning three and walking two.
Closer Greg Holland (2.80 ERA) earned his 15th save.
Lefty Will Smith (5-8, 5.08 ERA) takes the hill against Indians starter Ubaldo Jimenez (9-16, 5.43 ERA) for game two on Saturday night at Kauffman Stadium.
