KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Adeiny Hechavarria sidestepped catcher Salvador Perez, and instinct took over. Right hand, left hand — then straight to the highlight reels.

Hechavarria danced around Perez with an inventive slide at home plate to score the go-ahead run, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Kansas City Royals 2-1 on Monday night.

Hechavarria ran through third base coach Matt Quatraro’s stop sign on Matt Duffy’s single to right field in the sixth inning, deked to avoid Perez’s lunging tag attempted, then dived back toward the plate. Hechavarria faked toward the dish with his right hand, then jabbed his left hand just past Perez’s outstretched glove to touch the plate. Umpire Rob Drake immediately signaled him safe.

“That was pure instinct,” Hechavarria said through an interpreter. “I went in thinking, going into a slide, but he was right there kind of blocking the plate, so I went around. I was going to put one hand in, and I saw he was going to put one hand there, so I flipped and put the other hand in there just in time.”

Perez said he expected Hechavarria to jump or slide on a close play. Instead, the backstop ended up diving all over trying to follow Hechavarria’s body.

“He did a tremendous job changing hands,” Perez said. “I think the right hand at first and soon as he sees me (about) to tag him, then he changed from the right to the left and I was too late. That was a great slide. He was safe. We don’t challenge. It’s hard to prepare for that.”

Rays manager Kevin Cash was not pleased with one aspect of the winning run.

“Running through a stop sign, I guess he felt like being acrobatic,” Cash said. “That was a really impressive slide, but we’re probably not going to benefit from making those decisions too often, but it was nice that we did tonight.”

Ryan Yarbrough (3-2) allowed one run over five innings for Tampa Bay, and Duffy had three hits and drove in both runs. Alex Colome worked the ninth for his seventh save in nine opportunities.

Eric Skoglund (1-3) permitted two runs on seven hits, walked none and struck out four in 7 2/3 innings, his longest career outing. He tied a Royals’ record with six assists by a pitcher.

Whit Merrifield had three hits for his seventh multihit game in the past 14 and homered into the Rays’ bullpen to lead off the third.

Yarbrough gave up five hits and picked up his first career victory as a starter. Five Rays relievers held the Royals to one hit over the final four innings.

Jon Jay tripled with one out in the ninth, but Colome struck out Ryan Goins and retired Alex Gordon on a grounder to end the game.

C.J. Cron doubled in the first, extending his on-base streak to 20 games, and scored on Duffy’s single to right. Cron later hit a pitch from Skoglund after it bounced in front of home plate, knocking a line drive that was caught in left field in the sixth.

Yarbrough wriggled out of a bases-loaded jam with one out in the fifth. Alcides Escobar and Merrifield singled and Jorge Soler walked on four pitches. Mike Moustakas bounced a first pitch back to Yarbrough to start an inning-ending double play.

“We got some momentum change after the double play,” Yarbrough said.

ROSTER MOVES

Rays: RHP Andrew Kittredge was optioned to Triple-A Durham. Kittredge was 1-2 with a 9.72 ERA in 13 appearances. They recalled RHP Hunter Wood from Durham. The Rays will activate LHP Anthony Banda on Tuesday and start him against the Royals. Banda went 4-2 in seven starts at Durham.

Royals: IF-OF Hunter Dozier was recalled from Triple-A Omaha and made his first big league start at first base. Dozier, a 2013 first-round pick, played in eight games with the Royals in 2016, playing right field in seven and DHing in the other. He was hitting .254 in 35 games with the Storm Chasers.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: RHP Nathan Eovaldi was scratched from a minor league rehab start with a right rib muscle strain. He’s been on the disabled list all season with loose fragments in his pitching elbow.

Royals: 1B Lucas Duda was placed on the 10-day disabled list with right foot plantar fasciitis. RHP Justin Grimm has reported to Triple-A Omaha to begin a rehab assignment. He is on the disabled list with a lower back injury. Royals 3B Cheslor Cuthbert left after seven innings with back spasms.

UP NEXT

Rays: Banda will make his Tampa Bay debut after appearing in eight games last year with Arizona. He was acquired in a six-player, three-team trade in February, which also included the Yankees.

Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy will try to rebound from a loss Thursday at Baltimore, where he allowed nine runs in four innings.

— Associated Press —

CLEVELAND (AP) — Corey Kluber was handed a big lead early in the game and the rest was simple.

Kluber became the American League’s first six-game winner and the Cleveland Indians beat the Kansas City Royals 11-2 on Sunday.

The Indians led 9-0 going into the fifth, leading to a stress-free afternoon for the reigning Cy Young Award winner, who gave up two unearned runs in seven innings, scattering eight hits.

“If you have a nine run cushion, obviously you have a bigger margin for error,” Kluber said. “They’ve always been pretty aggressive against me. It can work both ways. You can get some early contact and get some quick outs.”

Kluber (6-2) was backed by four hits from Yan Gomes, including a three-run homer. Jose Ramirez also hit a three-run shot and Michael Brantley had a two-run homer as the Indians had 15 hits.

“It was nice to get him some runs,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “He knows what to do with it.”

Kansas City manager Ned Yost knew the big deficit was a bad sign against Kluber, who also won the Cy Young in 2014.

“Yes, he’s that good,” Yost said. “He’s got a tremendous cutter, a real good curveball, and a fastball that starts at a hitter’s hip and just fades right back in over the corner. He’s got excellent command.”

Yankees starter Luis Severino later joined Kluber with six wins.

Gomes hit a fourth-inning home run off Danny Duffy (1-5), doubled in the second and singled in the third and sixth to match his career high for hits.

Ramirez’s homer capped a five-run second inning while Brantley homered in the seventh.

Francisco Lindor extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games with three hits, including an RBI single in the third. Lindor had two homers and two doubles Saturday. He got off to an inauspicious start Sunday, walking to home plate in the first inning wearing the wrong batting helmet.

A switch-hitter, Lindor had on the helmet he usually uses when he hits left-handed — with a protective flap on the right side. But he was facing the left-hander Duffy and was going to hit right-handed.

Lindor quickly realized the mistake, exchanged helmets with a bat boy and smiled when he returned to the batter’s box. Lindor flied out. Helmets with flaps on the side facing the pitcher have been mandatory for all players making their major league debuts since 1983.

Cleveland strung together a single, a double, two walks, a hit batter, a wild pitch and RBI ground balls by Greg Allen and Brantley in the second to take a 2-0 lead. Ramirez’s 12th homer of the season pushed the lead to five.

After striking out Brandon Guyer to finally end the inning, a frustrated Duffy tossed a cooler in the dugout but his day would only get worse. Lindor drove in another run in the following inning before Gomes hit his fifth homer of the season.

Duffy allowed nine runs in 3 1/3 innings. His fortunes were much different than his previous outing when the Royals scored 10 runs in the top of the first. Duffy allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings for his first win of the season.

Duffy, whose ERA jumped from 5.15 to 6.51, gave his performance a harsh critique.

“I just wasn’t making pitches,” he said. “There is nothing else to it. I don’t know what else to say. I have not been a good pitcher this year. There are no excuses. I’ve been letting my team down.”

PERFECT DAY?

Gomes fouled out to first baseman Lucas Duda in the seventh, ending his bid for a 5 for 5 afternoon. He admitted getting a fifth hit was on his mind.

“It’s an 11-2 ballgame, so you can take in some of the moment while you’re having your last at-bat,” he said. “I was going to be happy no matter what, I think.”

LOOK OUT

The ball boy seated in foul territory near the right field line moved quickly to avoid being hit by Rajai Davis’ foul line drive in the eight. The ball boy leaned back in his chair with his legs going in the air as the ball hit off the front of the stands a couple of feet away.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Justin Grimm (stiff lower back) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha. He appeared in 10 of Kansas City’s first 19 games before being placed on the disabled list on April 24.

Indians: CF Bradley Zimmer (bruised chest) was out of the lineup again and a trip to the disabled list is possible if he’s not ready in the next day or two. Zimmer has appeared in one game since crashing into the wall at Yankee Stadium on May 5. … LHP Ryan Merritt (shoulder inflammation) has been shut down for three to five days on his minor league rehab assignment.

UP NEXT

Royals LHP Eric Skogland (1-2, 6.34 ERA) takes on Rays LHP Ryan Yarbrough (2-2, 4.30 ERA) in the opener of a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium. Indians RHP Carlos Carrasco (5-1, 3.61 ERA) faces Tigers RHP Mike Fiers (3-2, 4.73 ERA) as the teams begin a three-game set at Comerica Park.

— Associated Press —

CLEVELAND (AP) — Andrew Miller, activated from the disabled list before the game, gave up Salvador Perez’s two-run homer in the seventh inning and the Kansas City Royals rallied to defeat the Cleveland Indians 10-9 on Friday night.

Miller, making his first appearance since straining his left hamstring April 25, allowed his first runs of the season and the Royals rallied from a 9-4 deficit.

Miller (1-1) entered the game in the seventh with a one-run lead, but walked Jon Jay on a 3-2 pitch. Jorge Soler and Mike Moustakas struck out before Perez hit a 1-1 pitch onto the home run porch in left field. Miller, who had pitched 10 scoreless innings before the injury, was removed following the homer.

The Indians have lost five of six. Cleveland went 5-9 and its bullpen had a 9.50 ERA while Miller was sidelined. Indians manager Terry Francona said consideration was given to have Miller make a couple of minor league rehab assignments, but the decision was made to activate the star left-hander.

Alcides Escobar had four RBI for Kansas City while Lucas Duda doubled three times and drove in a run. Jay had two RBI and Moustakas had three hits.

Brad Keller (1-1) pitched three scoreless innings for his first major league win. Kelvin Herrera retired the side in order in the ninth for his eighth save.

Michael Brantley’s grand slam capped a six-run fourth inning that gave Cleveland a 9-4 lead.

Brantley ended an eight-pitch at-bat by hitting a 2-2 delivery from Jason Hammel into the right field seats for his second grand slam this month and of his career. He also hit a game-tying grand slam in the ninth inning against Texas on May 1.

Kansas City scored a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth. Shortstop Francisco Lindor’s throwing error to start the sixth made two of the runs unearned. Rookie center fielder Greg Allen dropped a line drive in the third, leading to another unearned run.

Tyler Naquin’s two-run double in the fourth gave Cleveland a 5-4 lead. Jose Ramirez and Yonder Alonso homered in the first against Hammel, who hasn’t won since September 6, 2017, a stretch of 12 starts.

Indians starter Trevor Bauer allowed five runs and a career-high 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings. Hammel gave up nine runs, including three homers in 3 2/3 innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Indians: OF Bradley Zimmer, still dealing with a bruised chest after running into the wall at Yankee Stadium last weekend, didn’t play. Allen replaced him in center and dropped a fly ball in the third leading to an unearned run. …. Naquin was removed in the top of the fifth with left hamstring tightness.

UP NEXT

Royals RHP Jakob Junis (4-2, 3.18 ERA) takes on Indians RHP Mike Clevinger (2-0, 2.76 ERA). Clevinger struck out a career-high 10 in his last start at the Yankees on May 6.

— Associated Press —

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles are finally riding another winning streak, five weeks after their last one.

Adam Jones homered, scored three runs and had three RBI, and Baltimore outslugged the Kansas City Royals 11-6 Thursday night.

Manny Machado and Trey Mancini also went deep for the Orioles, who trailed 4-0 in the first inning and 6-3 in the second before rallying to beat the Royals for the second night in a row. The only other time Baltimore (10-27) won successive games this season was April 5-6 at Yankee Stadium.

“Obviously, we’ve got a long way to go. We know that,” Mancini said. “You just try to string some wins together and maybe be in a decent spot.”

The Orioles had seven extra-base hits and eclipsed their previous season high of eight runs by the fourth inning.

That was enough to overcome another awful start by Chris Tillman, who yielded six runs and got only four outs. With a 1-5 record and a 10.46 ERA, his time in the rotation — or on the roster — may be coming to an end.

“Same challenges he’s had: stuff was a little short and command was short. That’s a bad combination,” manager Buck Showalter said. “It’s tough to watch him struggle like that, especially with the success he’s had in the past.”

Tillman was 16-6 in 2016 and is 2-12 since.

“I’m just not getting it done. It’s not good right now,” he said.

Miguel Castro (1-1) replaced Tillman and blanked Kansas City over 4 2/3 innings, his longest outing of the season.

“Castro came in and neutralized us,” Kansas City manager Ned Yost said.

Salvador Perez hit a grand slam for the Royals, who were seeking their second series win of the year.

“We had a good first inning with the grand slam, and I said, `Here we go,” Yost said.

By the fourth inning, Kansas City trailed 9-6.

Ian Kennedy (1-4) gave up eight hits, including three home runs. The nine runs he allowed were the second-most of his career.

“The guys scored a bunch of runs for me and I can’t hold it,” the right-hander said. “I’m really disappointed.”

After starting Tuesday night’s game at Camden Yards with a 10-run first inning, the Royals settled for a four-run first in the finale. A single and two walks set the table for Perez, who ripped an 0-2 pitch from Tillman over the right-field scoreboard.

Machado connected with a man on in the bottom half to make it 4-3, but Tillman gave up a two-run single by Jorge Soler in the second, prompting his early exit.

Jones hit a two-run shot in the third to get Baltimore to 6-5, and the Orioles completed the comeback in the fourth.

After Chance Sisco doubled in two runs, Mancini followed with his fourth home run.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: CF Abraham Almonte did not play because he was still experiencing symptoms of the illness that caused him to be removed from Wednesday night’s game. … RHP Justin Grimm (back stiffness) threw a bullpen session and could start a rehab assignment next week, Yost said.

Orioles: DH Pedro Alvarez hurt his hamstring on the bases and was replaced in the fifth inning. … An MRI on RHP Darren O’Day’s hyperextended elbow was “remarkably clean,” Showalter said. There is no indication yet whether O’Day can come off the DL when eligible on May 16. … INF Engelb Vielma fractured his kneecap when he tripped over the bullpen mound while chasing a foul ball in a minor league game. Vielma played in six games with Baltimore this season.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Perez hit his second career grand slam on his 28th birthday . He is the 16th different KC player to homer on his birthday, and only the second to hit a slam. Mike Sweeney did it on July 22, 2004.

UP NEXT

Royals: Still looking for his first win, Jason Hammel (0-4, 4.78 ERA) makes his eighth start of the year Friday night as KC opens a three-game series in Cleveland.

Orioles: Kevin Gausman (2-2, 3.30) helps Baltimore open a four-game series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night. The right-hander has lowered his ERA in each of his last six starts.

— Associated Press —

BALTIMORE (AP) — Mark Trumbo delivered a tiebreaking two-run single in the eighth inning, Chris Davis homered and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Kansas City Royals 5-3 Wednesday night to end a seven-game losing streak.

Jonathan Schoop had two hits and scored twice for the Orioles, who lost 18 of their previous 21 games.

Lucas Duda homered and drove in three runs for the Royals.

With two outs in the eighth, Manny Machado legged out a slow roller to third base for an infield single and Schoop sent him to third with a double. Trumbo then hit a liner up the middle that knocked Kansas City pitcher Kevin McCarthy (3-1) off his feet.

Richard Bleier (3-0) worked two innings and Brad Brach got three outs for his fourth save, striking out Jon Jay to end it with runners on second and third.

Orioles starter Andrew Cashner gave up three runs and six hits in six innings, his sixth straight outing without a victory.

Kansas City rookie Eric Skoglund allowed three runs and five hits over 6 1/3 innings in his 11th career start.

Unlike on Tuesday night, when the first eight Royals reached base in a 10-run first inning, Cashner kept Kansas City hitless into the fourth. With two outs, Salvador Perez singled and Duda ripped an 0-1 pitch over the center-field wall.

In the bottom half, singles by Adam Jones and Schoop preceded a two-out, opposite-field shot to left by Davis. It was his second homer in two nights after he connected only twice through his first 31 games.

Kansas City tied it in the sixth when Jorge Soler doubled and scored on two-out bloop single by Duda. The Royals then loaded the bases before Cashner retired Alcides Escobar on a comebacker.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: CF Abraham Almonte left in the sixth with an illness. … RHP Justin Grimm (lower back stiffness) is getting closer to starting a rehabilitation assignment. On the DL since April 22, he threw live batting practice on Tuesday. “Felt really good, looked really good,” manager Ned Yost said.

Orioles: Relief pitcher Darren O’Day was placed on the 10-day DL with a hyperextended right elbow. … Baltimore closer Zach Britton (Achilles tendon) threw a bullpen. Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Bundy could pitch in a minor league game before the end of the month, but “probably” not before May 28.

LOSING HURTS

Baltimore’s rocky start has been tough on everyone in the organization, including Showalter. “This game can beat up on anybody,” he said. “I didn’t need to have the period we’re in right now to remind me of that.”

UP NEXT

Royals: Ian Kennedy (1-3, 2.92 ERA) starts Thursday for the Royals, who will seek to win their second series of the year. Kennedy is 0-2 with a 6.98 ERA in five career appearances against Baltimore.

Orioles: Chris Tillman (1-5, 9.24) has yielded at least four runs in four of his five starts. In his last outing, the right-hander gave up seven runs and seven hits in one inning against the Angels.

— Associated Press —

BALTIMORE (AP) — Dylan Bundy set a dubious modern-day record, yielding four homers and leaving without getting an out, part of a 10-run first inning that propelled the Kansas City Royals past the hapless Baltimore Orioles 15-7 Tuesday night.

Bundy (1-5) was lifted after allowing five hits and two walks to the only seven batters he faced. That was more than enough damage to send the Orioles to their season-high seventh straight defeat and 19th in 22 games.

Jon Jay started the onslaught with a leadoff single before Jorge Soler, Mike Moustakas and Salvador Perez homered in succession.

Two walks and a home run by Alex Gordon followed, ending Bundy’s night after just 28 pitches. It marked the first time in the current era (1908-present) that a pitcher gave up four home runs during an outing in which he did not retire a batter, according to baseball-reference.com.

After compiling a 1.42 ERA after his first five starts, Bundy has given up 19 earned runs over his last three games to boost his ERA to 5.31.

Following Bundy’s departure, the Royals did not let up.

Alcides Escobar greeted Mike Wright with a single, the eighth straight batter to reach base. After No. 9 hitter Ryan Goins grounded out, many disgruntled fans in the crowd of 10,863 mustered a mock cheer. Minutes later, however, Moustakas singled in two runs and Perez capped the uprising with a sacrifice fly.

Moustakas finished with three hits, two homers and five RBI to help KC reach season highs in runs and hits (20). Gordon had four hits and three RBI, and Soler also drove in three runs.

Dan Duffy (1-4) allowed one run and six hits over 5 1/3 innings.

Chris Davis, Danny Valencia and Caleb Joseph hit solo homers for the Orioles, who were seeking to rebound from a second straight 0-6 road trip.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Justin Grimm (lower back stiffness) is “getting better,” manager Ned Yost said, offering no timetable for his return.

Orioles: 2B Jonathan Schoop was activated from the disabled list after spending three weeks trying to recover from a strained right oblique. He hit a two-run single in the ninth.

ANOTHER RECORD

The four homers in one inning tied a Royals record. It was the third time it happened, the last previously in 2001.

UP NEXT

Royals: KC can win its second series of the season with a victory Wednesday night behind Erik Skoglund (1-2, 6.84 ERA), who’s 0-2 with a 12.06 ERA in five career outings on the road.

Orioles: Andrew Cashner (1-4, 4.89) tries to get Baltimore its first win in more than a week.

— Associated Press —