KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 15 (UPI) -- John Buck blasted a grand slam home run and a solo shot Tuesday, powering the Kansas City Royals past visiting Cleveland 9-3.
Buck's heroics gave the Royals their third consecutive win and secured the victory for Kyle Davies (1-0), who labored through 5 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on seven hits while striking out five.
Carl Pavano (0-2) gave up four runs on eight hits over six innings and took the loss for the Indians. Mark DeRosa and Asdrubul Cabrera each had two hits and an RBI for Cleveland, which is off to a 1-8 start this spring.
Buck's grand slam came in the eighth inning with Kansas City hanging on to a 4-3 lead. Rafael Perez gave up a triple to David DeJesus and then intentionally walked Billy Butler before surrendering an RBI single to Mark Jacobs. Perez was lifted with the bases loaded for Vinnie Chulk, who served up an 0-1 fastball that Buck drove over the left-field fence to make it 9-3.
Kansas City took an early 2-0 lead but Cleveland came back to tie it in the fifth on RBI singles by Cabrera and DeRosa.
The Royals made it 4-3 in their half of the fifth on Buck's lead-off home run and an RBI double by DeJesus.
