CLEVELAND (AP) — Zach Plesac’s return has been just what he wanted, and exactly what the Indians needed.
Plesac won his second straight start since returning to Cleveland’s rotation after a demotion for breaking team COVID-19 protocols, leading the Indians to a 5-2 victory over Kansas City on Monday night that extended the Royals’ losing streak to a season-high seven straight.
Plesac (3-1) gave up a hit in each of the first seven innings, including Adalberto Mondesi’s 458-foot homer in the seventh, but came up with big pitches over seven innings.
In 13 innings over two starts since coming back, Plesac has allowed just two runs and not given up a walk with 10 strikeouts.
“Two wins, that’s all you can ask for,” said Plesac, who improved to 5-0 in six career starts against Kansas City.
Plesac was being counted on by the Indians before his off-field misstep, and interim manager Sandy Alomar Jar. said the 25-year-old has come back just as focused.
“He’s the same guy,” Alomar said. “Same kid with more discipline. He’s the same pitcher. He’s always been a motivated kid. He goes to the mound to win and to compete. I didn’t see any change prior or after. He seemed to me like the same pitcher.”
Indians closer Brad Hand struck out the side in the ninth for his major league-leading 12th save in as many tries.
Tyler Naquin had two RBIs for the Indians against Brad Keller (3-2), who hung around until the seventh and had some unlucky breaks on some grounders that found holes for Cleveland.
“Probably the most frustrating outing of my life,” Keller said. “Some days baseball works that way, and the ball doesn’t bounce your way. It seems like I made pitches when I had to and it just squeaked through the infield or whatever. Just one of those days.”
The Indians are 21-2 when scoring at least three runs, a trend All-Star Francisco Lindor dismissed before the game.
“I’m not a stat guy,” he said. “I could care less about stats. As long as I go win and I do my thing to help the team win that day, I’ll be fine.”
Lindor got two hits and scored once, but also had a baserunning gaffe when he got called out on an appeal play in the sixth for failing to touch second.
Cleveland moved into a tie for first in the AL Central with the idle Chicago White Sox.
Kansas City made two errors and Mondesi provided the only real highlight with the longest homer of his career, a shot that cleared the lower seats in right.
Cleveland scored twice in the second off Keller, who limited the Indians just one run over 6 1/3 innings on Aug. 31.
