CLEVELAND (AP) — Francisco Lindor broke out of his slump at the perfect time for the Cleveland Indians.

After tying the game with a ninth-inning triple, Lindor scored the winning run on a head-first dive across home plate on Mike Napoli’s sacrifice fly and the Indians rallied for a 5-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night.

Lindor was in a 2-for-19 skid when he came to bat in the ninth, but delivered when it mattered.

“I was just thinking, `Make hard contact,” he said, “And I hit it and I was like, `Yes, I did it.’ That’s what I wanted to do.”

Carlos Santana started the rally with a single off Joakim Soria (2-2) and took second on right fielder Paulo Orlando’s fielding error. After Jason Kipnis’ sacrifice, Lindor hit a line drive to right.

Orlando attempted a diving catch but the ball rolled to the wall. Pinch-runner Michael Martinez scored and Lindor slid headfirst into third.

“I didn’t come out running hard out of the box,” Lindor said. “I messed up. That’s a mistake by me, but as soon as I saw the ball drop, I was running until they tell you to stop. I was thinking three all the way.”

Napoli’s fly ball to left was deep enough to score Lindor, who dived into home plate to give Cleveland its second straight walkoff win.

“It means we can do it,” said Lindor, who threw his helmet high in the air after scoring. “We know we can do it, but it’s always fun, it’s always good to have moments like this.”

Tommy Hunter (2-1) pitched 1 2/3 innings for the win.

Soria filled in as closer for Wade Davis, who had pitched three of the last four days and two straight.

“Just didn’t want to use him three days in a row,” manager Ned Yost said of Davis. “It was one of those things where he needed a day.”

Drew Butera and Cheslor Cuthbert homered for the Royals, who appeared on the verge of winning for the ninth time in 10 games. Jarrod Dyson’s fourth-inning single broke a 3-all tie.

Yordano Ventura allowed two runs in seven innings.

Carlos Carrasco allowed three runs over five innings in his first appearance since April 24, when he strained his left hamstring covering first base. He was activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game.

“I thought he threw the ball well,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “He made a couple costly mistakes. It’ll be nice to have him back. He’s a big, big guy for us.”

Lonnie Chisenhall, Jose Ramirez and Tyler Naquin also drove in runs for Cleveland.

CAVS FAN

Royals SS Alcides Escobar has made it clear he’s rooting for the Cleveland Cavaliers to defeat the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. Escobar wore a gold Cavaliers No. 2 Kyrie Irving jersey during batting practice Thursday.

“I like him,” Escobar said. “He’s doing good. That’s my second favorite player. LeBron (James) and him.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: 3B Mike Moustakas had successful surgery on his right knee to repair a torn ACL on Thursday. … C Salvador Perez could pinch hit this weekend. He took part in running and throwing drills Thursday.

Indians: OF Michael Brantley (inflammation in right shoulder) could start hitting soft toss Friday. He’s been taking swings off a tee the last several days. Brantley is on the disabled list for the second time this season.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez has lost his last three starts to the

Indians. He’s 2-5 in eight career starts against Cleveland. His 8.25 ERA is his worst against any team he’s faced.

Indians: RHP Danny Salazar will make his 11th career start against the Royals. He pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings against them at Progressive Field on May 6.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals will spend the next 11 days on the road after completing their best homestand in nearly three decades.

Danny Duffy pitched six effective innings and rookie Whit Merrifield had two hits and scored a run as the Kansas City Royals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-3 on Wednesday night to complete a 6-0 homestand.

The last time the Royals had a homestand of 6-0 or better was June 2-8, 1988, when they went 7-0.

“It feels good. I wish we could stay here another week,” said Jarrod Dyson, who had a sacrifice bunt, stole a base, walked, scored a run and picked up his sixth outfield assist.

Duffy (1-0) allowed three runs and seven hits, while walking none and striking out six over six innings, his longest outing since moving into the rotation on May 15.

“It’s nice, you have to take care of business at home,” Duffy said. “We didn’t lose in this series at home. It’s huge.”

Duffy was efficient, throwing only 40 pitches in the first four innings and 75 total. Early in his career he would get his pitch count up in a hurry.

“The only way to escape your past is be better than your past,” Duffy said. “Everybody grows in this game.”

Royals relievers Joakim Soria, Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis held the Rays scoreless over the final three innings. Davis picked up his 16th save in 17 chances, but not before walking one, giving up a hit and uncorking a wild pitch.

Merrifield has hit in his first 11 career starts, which is a Royals’ record. He doubled in the first and scored on Lorenzo Cain’s single. He has scored a run in nine consecutive games, which matches a Royals rookie record set by Mike Aviles in 2008. Merrifield singled in the fourth for his seventh multihit game.

Chris Archer (3-7) gave up five runs, four earned, eight hits and two walks over six innings.

“We were down from the start really quick,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “Archer came out and it looked like his thought was to pound the strike zone and their thought was not to take anything.”

The Royals’ offense included Cain going 3 for 4 with an RBI and scoring two runs. Cain has 24 RBI in 20 games after driving in just 10 in his first 30. Kendrys Morales had two hits and drove in a run.

Curt Casali homered for the Rays, while Mikie Mahtook snapped a career-worst 0-for-19 skid with a third-inning double and scored on a single by Brad Miller.

“Baseball players are dumb sometimes,” Casali said. “We try to over-swing. That’s when we get into fits and stuff doesn’t go the way we want it to. I’m not trying to hit home runs. I’m trying to hit the ball as hard as I can and put as quick of a swing as I can. Fortunately that was a good one.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: RHP Brad Boxberger was placed on the DL with a left oblique strain. He came off the DL on Monday, threw 16 pitches Tuesday and returned to the DL. … 2B Steve Pearce was held out of the lineup with right elbow tendinitis.

Royals: 3B Mike Moustakas is scheduled to undergo season-ending right knee surgery Thursday to repair a torn ACL. … OF Brett Eibner went on the DL with a left ankle sprain. … C Salvador Perez, who has missed four games with a bruised thigh, took batting practice and did some light running. He could return sometime during the four-game series at Cleveland.

ROSTER MOVES

The Rays recalled INF Tim Beckham from Triple-A Durham for his second stint. He struck out 23 times in 54 at-bats in his first stint. … The Royals recalled RHP Peter Moylan and OF Reymond Fuentes, who started in right in the season opener, from Triple-A Omaha. RHP Dillon Gee, who started and won Tuesday, was optioned to Omaha.

UP NEXT

Rays: LHP Matt Moore is 1-0 with a 3.24 ERA in three career appearances against the Twins. He snapped a six-game winless streak when he beat the Mets in his previous start.

Royals: Royals RHP Yordano Ventura, who starts Thursday at Cleveland, has a 7.16 ERA in his past six starts, allowing 37 hits, including seven home runs, and walking 19 in 32 2/3 innings.

— Associated Press —