Michael A. Taylor hit a game-ending RBI single, and the Kansas City Royals beat the slumping Cleveland Guardians 4-3 on Friday night.
Taylor poked a 1-2 pitch into right in the bottom of the ninth for the winning hit.
Cleveland led 3-1 after seven innings, but Whit Merrifield hit a tying two-run homer in the eighth. It was just his second homer in 42 games.
Scott Barlow (3-2) pitched a shaky ninth for the win. Cleveland loaded the bases with one out in the top half of the inning, but couldn’t score.
RHP Jonathan Heasley (1-4, 4.76 ERA) will go for the Royals on Saturday at 3:10.