KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It took only a half inning for Royals fans to turn sour during the Kansas City Royals (3-4, 0-1 home) home opener at Kauffman Stadium on Friday.
The Cleveland Indians (2-4, 1-0 away) shelled Royals starter Luke Hochevar (1-1) for seven runs on nine hits in the first inning.
After 36 pitches and a 7-0 deficit, Hochevar and the team sauntered back to the Royals dugout amidst a smattering of boos from a sellout crowd of over 40,000.
Hochevar would bounce back to pitch three shutout innings before he was drilled in the ankle by a line drive in the top of the fourth.
In the bottom of the fourth, a brief rally ensued. Royals left fielder Alex Gordon and Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas both got RBI’s, and the gap was narrowed to four. The Indians led 7-3.
Royals reliever Everett Teaford stepped in and kept the Royals within striking distance, but the damage was already done. Teaford tossed four innings and gave up one hit.
Indians starter Derek Lowe (2-0) got the win.
Royals lefty Jonathan Sanchez will start against the Indians for game two at the K.