Brantley, Indians score 5 times in 8th inning to overtake Royals for 5-3 win

Indians rally for 5 runs in 8th to beat Royals 5-3

CLEVELAND — Pinch-hitter Michael Brantley’s two-run double capped a five-run rally in the eighth inning that carried the Cleveland Indians to a 5-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

Shelley Duncan tied the game with a three-run homer off Robinson Tejeda (3-5). Singles by Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin-Soo Choo started the inning before Duncan hit a 1-2 pitch into the home run porch in left field.

Andy Marte singled with two outs and went to third on Luis Valbuena’s ground-rule double. Brantley, batting for Lou Marson, hit a 1-2 pitch past first base and down the line in right field to give the Indians the lead.

Brantley hadn’t played since Wednesday because of tightness in his left hamstring.

Rafael Perez (6-1) pitched 1 1-3 scoreless innings. Vinnie Pestano, called up from Triple-A Columbus on Friday, worked the ninth for his first major league save in his second career appearance.

Bruce Chen tossed 6 2-3 scoreless innings and was on the verge of his fourth win of the season against the Indians until Tejeda gave up the lead. Chen held the Indians to four hits, struck out three and walked three.

Mike Aviles hit a solo homer with one out in the fifth, the 5,000th home run in Royals history. Billy Butler, who had three hits and a walk, added an RBI single in the seventh.

Fausto Carmona allowed two runs in six innings.

Josh Fields’ RBI single gave Kansas City the lead in the first. Carmona retired the first two batters, but gave up three straight hits. Butler singled, went to third on Kila Ka’aihue’s double and scored on Fields’ single to center.

Choo, who had one hit in four at-bats, is hitting .377 (26 for 69) with 20 RBIs in 18 games against the Royals.

The Indians won the season series 10-8.

NOTES: Royals OF Mitch Maier (left knee stiffness) was a late lineup scratch. Jai Miller started in right field. … Kansas City INF Wilson Betemit, hit on the knee by a pitch Saturday, was out of the lineup. … The Indians acquired OF Preston Mattingly, the son of Don Mattingly, in a minor league trade with the Dodgers in exchange for OF Roman Pena. Preston Mattingly, the Dodgers’ No. 1 draft pick in 2006, batted .218 with two homers and 17 RBIs at the Class-A level this season.