CLEVELAND -- The Indians have been relying heavily on the bottom of their lineup in the first few weeks of the season, waiting patiently for the top to turn things around. On Wednesday night, the first three within the Tribe nine showed signs of life.Michael Bourn, Nick Swisher and Jason Kipnis all came through in key situations against the Royals, helping the Indians claim a 5-3 win at Progressive Field. With the victory, Cleveland has taken two in the four-game set with a chance to seal a series win on Thursday. 
Indians starter Justin Masterson had solid effort marred somewhat by his defense, but the offense did its part in avoiding what would have been a discouraging loss. The first three batters in the order combined to go 6-for-13 and accounted for three of the Tribe's five runs.The Royals delivered back-to-back blows against Masterson in the second inning. First, catcher Salvador Perez snapped out of an 0-for-22 funk by drilling the first pitch he received from the righty deep to right-center field for a one-out solo home run. Four pitches later, Mike Moustakas pulled an offering down the right-field line for a second straight shot, putting the Tribe in a 2-0 hole.Cleveland did not need long to counter.In the home half of the second, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and catcher Yan Gomes came through with consecutive one-out singles. Two batters later, Bourn laced a pitch from Royals lefty Jason Vargas to the wall in right-center field for a triple, scoring both runners to tie the game at 2.Masterson and Vargas traded zeros until the sixth, when defensive missteps played a role for both sides.Eric Hosmer led off with a base hit and moved up 90 feet on a fielder's choice grounder from Billy Butler. On the play, Cabrera gloved a roller behind the mound and fired it to second baseman Kipnis, who mishandled the ball at the bag, allowing both runners to reach safely. The miscue marked the American League-leading 21st error of the season for Cleveland.Later in the inning, Moustakas capitalized on the mistake with a run-scoring single to right that pushed the Royals ahead, 3-2.Kansas City caught the error bug in the bottom of the frame after Michael Brantley's single. When Brantley sprinted for a steal of second base, Perez rifled a ball into center field for an error that allowed the runner to advance to third. On the play, center fielder Jarrod Dyson couldn't corral the ball, resulting in a second error that let Brantley cross the plate.With the game tied at 3, Masterson exited with his fifth no-decision of the season after being charged with three runs (two earned) on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. Vargas received a no-decision as well after giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits in six frames for Kansas City.That set the stage for Swisher and Kipnis, who swung the game in Cleveland's favor in the seventh. After Bourn singled and was caught stealing second, Swisher singled to right off Royals reliever Kelvin Herrera. Kipnis then settled into the box and drove a pitch from Herrera to right-center for a double that scored Swisher, putting the Indians ahead for good, 4-3.Lonnie Chisenhall added a pinch-hit RBI single in the eighth for good measure, giving Indians closer John Axford some extra insurance to earn his eighth save.Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
Indians starter Justin Masterson had solid effort marred somewhat by his defense, but the offense did its part in avoiding what would have been a discouraging loss. The first three batters in the order combined to go 6-for-13 and accounted for three of the Tribe's five runs.The Royals delivered back-to-back blows against Masterson in the second inning. First, catcher Salvador Perez snapped out of an 0-for-22 funk by drilling the first pitch he received from the righty deep to right-center field for a one-out solo home run. Four pitches later, Mike Moustakas pulled an offering down the right-field line for a second straight shot, putting the Tribe in a 2-0 hole.Cleveland did not need long to counter.In the home half of the second, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and catcher Yan Gomes came through with consecutive one-out singles. Two batters later, Bourn laced a pitch from Royals lefty Jason Vargas to the wall in right-center field for a triple, scoring both runners to tie the game at 2.Masterson and Vargas traded zeros until the sixth, when defensive missteps played a role for both sides.Eric Hosmer led off with a base hit and moved up 90 feet on a fielder's choice grounder from Billy Butler. On the play, Cabrera gloved a roller behind the mound and fired it to second baseman Kipnis, who mishandled the ball at the bag, allowing both runners to reach safely. The miscue marked the American League-leading 21st error of the season for Cleveland.Later in the inning, Moustakas capitalized on the mistake with a run-scoring single to right that pushed the Royals ahead, 3-2.Kansas City caught the error bug in the bottom of the frame after Michael Brantley's single. When Brantley sprinted for a steal of second base, Perez rifled a ball into center field for an error that allowed the runner to advance to third. On the play, center fielder Jarrod Dyson couldn't corral the ball, resulting in a second error that let Brantley cross the plate.With the game tied at 3, Masterson exited with his fifth no-decision of the season after being charged with three runs (two earned) on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. Vargas received a no-decision as well after giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits in six frames for Kansas City.That set the stage for Swisher and Kipnis, who swung the game in Cleveland's favor in the seventh. After Bourn singled and was caught stealing second, Swisher singled to right off Royals reliever Kelvin Herrera. Kipnis then settled into the box and drove a pitch from Herrera to right-center for a double that scored Swisher, putting the Indians ahead for good, 4-3.Lonnie Chisenhall added a pinch-hit RBI single in the eighth for good measure, giving Indians closer John Axford some extra insurance to earn his eighth save.Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
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