KANSAS CITY -- The Indians rallied for 11 runs in the ninth inning Tuesday night and pulled out an improbable 13-7 win over the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
That's right. Eleven runs in the ninth. The Tribe sent 14 men to the plate and, in the blink of an eye, a five-run deficit turned into a six-run lead and a huge victory.
Casey Blake opened the rally with a double to left field, Grady Sizemore followed with an RBI double to left, and Coco Crisp singled to drive home Sizemore. That made it 7-4.
After Jhonny Peralta struck out, Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez strung together consecutive hits before Ronnie Belliard grounded to short for what looked to be a game-ending double play. Instead, Royals shortstop Angel Berroa botched the ball, recorded only one out, and kept the Tribe's hopes alive.
Pinch-hitter Jeff Leifer then drove a ball to left that skipped off the glove of Royals left fielder Chip Ambres. That drove home Belliard to tie the game. Aaron Boone's ensuing double drove home Leifer to give the Tribe the 8-7 lead.
From there, Blake walked, Sizemore singled -- that scored another run -- Crisp walked and Peralta capped a wild rally and a wild evening with a three-run homer to left field.
