Jorge Bonifacio, Cheslor Cuthbert lead way in Royals’ 7-4 victory over Indians

The routine begins around the fifth inning. The indoor batting cage underneath the Royals’ dugout becomes a laboratory for work. On days he is not in the lineup, rookie outfielder Jorge Bonifacio heads to the cage in the middle of the game, he says. He grabs a tee and whacks baseballs into a net. He fires up the pitching machine and takes cuts to refine his timing.

In a practical sense, he is prepping for a possible pinch-hit situation in the late innings, he says. But as the days off add up, and the playing time remains sparse, the work takes on a deeper meaning: Sometimes it’s the best way to stay sharp.

“I try and not think: ‘I’m sitting here; I’ve got three or four days on the bench,’ ” Bonifacio said. “I’m just trying to keep my eye on the game.”

There is no perfect way to stay ready while sitting on the bench. Bonifacio has learned this the hard way, ever since a late July trade for outfielder Melky Cabrera ate into his playing time. Third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert has learned it, too, sitting for extended stretches this season behind Mike Moustakas.

Yet in a 7-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium, Bonifacio and Cuthbert entered the lineup and produced for a club in desperate need, helping the Royals avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of a division rival.

Bonifacio finished 3 for 4 and scored two runs. Cuthbert was 2 for 4 with a booming solo homer to left in the third inning and a two-run single in a three-run fifth. The Royals (62-61) salvaged a win on a warm afternoon, improving to 7-12 in August and pulling within 6  1/2 games of the Indians in the American League Central.

“Just try to keep focus,” Cuthbert said.

The victory also helped Kansas City hold ground in a crowded AL wild-card race, remaining 1  1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Angels and Minnesota. The club will commence a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium.

But first, on the eve of a day off and a once-in-a-century eclipse across the country, they relied on offense from the bottom of the order, riding the bats of Bonifacio and Cuthbert. They hammered away at Indians starter Danny Salazar, who was hit for six runs and 12 hits in 4  2/3 innings. They received a solid performance from a starting rotation that entered with a 5.99 ERA in August.

“Huge win today,” said starter Jason Hammel, who improved to 6-9 after surrendering three runs in six innings. “Outstanding job by the bottom of the order to get some big knocks for us.”

Indeed, the decisive sequence came in the bottom of the fifth, with two outs in the inning and the game still tied at 3-3. The Royals had scored three runs off Salazar and threatened for more. But as Bonifacio, the lineup’s No. 6 hitter, stepped to the plate with Eric Hosmer at first base, it appeared as if Salazar might slither away yet again.

Bonifacio fell behind 0-2 on two sliders before poking a fastball for a single. Shortstop Alcides Escobar followed by slapping a single to right field, extending his hitting streak to 11 games and scoring Hosmer from second base. Cuthbert punctuated the two-out rally by shooting a two-run single into right field against Cleveland reliever Zach McAllister, stretching the lead to 6-3.

“We needed that,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

Cuthbert’s offense provided atonement for a costly defensive mistake in the third inning. He failed to take charge on a foul pop by Cleveland shortstop Francisco Lindor, and moments later, Lindor yanked an inside slider off the foul-pole in right field, tying the game at 2-2.

Hammel was stunned the wind pushed the ball fair. Cuthbert was left lamenting the miscue, though he did force a smile when he nearly knocked catcher Cam Gallagher over while chasing a foul ball later in the game.

“I think both of them I should try to be aggressive with,” Cuthbert said.

Cuthbert was making a start at third base as Moustakas spent the day at designated hitter, forcing Brandon Moss from the lineup. Bonifacio started in right field for the first time since last Monday in Oakland, a 6-2 victory over the A’s. Both players have spent much of the last few weeks on the bench.

In 19 games in August, Bonifacio has started just eight times. For now, he has given way to Cabrera, who joined the team on July 31, and Gordon, who is back playing every day after a two-game reset earlier this month.

The Royals prefer the stability and defense of Gordon in left, even as his offensive production remains at a historically low level. The same goes for Cabrera, who has been an offensive catalyst since his arrival. That means fewer opportunities for Bonifacio, who has struggled at the plate since late July. He’s hit .185 in August after finishing July with a two-for-14 stretch. Before Sunday, his only extra-base hit came in a 14-6 victory over the White Sox on Aug. 13.

The slump dovetails with a decrease in playing time. But Bonifacio has made a case in his last three starts for more at-bats, going six for 14 in three victories.

“I just try to use the machine in the cage,” Bonifacio said. “That's helped me a lot.”

For now, the Royals are treading water after opening the month with nine losses in 11 games. They have stabilized. Yet now they must put together a run.

In the moments after the victory, Yost discussed his plans for Monday’s eclipse while his team exhaled entering a day off. On Friday, they entered Kauffman Stadium hoping to make up ground on the first-place Indians. That did not happen. But after being outclassed Friday and Saturday, losing by a combined score of 15-1, Yost sought to put a positive spin on the weekend.

“Next best scenario is if you lose the first two games: ‘Win the third one.’ ”

The Royals did that. They will face Colorado this week and travel to Cleveland next weekend. The postseason chase continues.

Royals 7, Indians 4

This story was originally published August 20, 2017 at 4:25 PM with the headline "Jorge Bonifacio, Cheslor Cuthbert lead way in Royals’ 7-4 victory over Indians."