it, I guess, but I think with everything that goes on these days, m

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Ryan Merritt had a notable first start in the majors.Merritt retired the final 13 batters he faced in five strong innings, Francisco Lindor hit a three-run homer, and the Cleveland Indians defeated the Kansas City Royals 7-2 Friday night.Merritt (1-0) gave up a run and three hits in the first, but nothing after that. Merritt, who had made three relief appearances this season and was promoted Sept. 11 from Triple-A Columbus, threw 62 pitches, striking out four and walking none.Id be lying if I said I wasnt nervous, Merritt said. I was definitely nervous.After three of the first four Royals singled, Merritt got Paulo Orlando to ground into an inning double play on a cutter, which he said absolutely was his biggest pitch of the game.That got me through the first inning, Merritt said.After that the Royals did not touch him.He doesnt seem to get flustered, Indians manager Terry Francona said. That was impressive. I was really thrilled. I think everybody was excited for him. The first couple of hitters hit the ball hard, but he didnt back off.Lindor, who snapped an 0-for-29 drought with a double in a four-run third, homered off the left-field foul pole with pinch runner Michael Martinez and Carlos Santana aboard in the seventh.To be honest, I thought about it a lot, Lindor said of his skid. There were a lot of times, I was going, `like wow, I wonder how long before I get a hit? Santana, who had three hits, tripled in two runs in the fourth and scored on Jason Kipnis sacrifice fly. Jose Ramirez singled with two outs to score Lindor.Yordano Ventura (11-12) gave up four runs and six hits with three walks while striking out eight in six innings.I lost concentration and just started throwing fastballs, Ventura said in through an interpreter in the four-run third. After that I got back to my game and mixed it up.Eric Hosmer singled in a run in the first, upping his RBI total to a career-high 104. The Royals, who had three singles in the first, did not have another base runner until Hunter Dozier singled with one out in the eighth. He scored on Drew Buteras triple.We had three hits in the first third of an inning, Royals manager Ned Yost said. Im thinking, `OK, were going to get him and you look up on the board and we dont get another hit until the eighth inning.GOMES ACTIVATEDIndians C Yan Gomes, who suffered a right shoulder separation in July and a fractured wrist on Sept. 14 when rehabbing in the minors, was activated from the 60-day disabled list. Gomes entered in the seventh as a defensive replacement.TRAINERS ROOMIndians: RHP Carlos Carrasco (broken little finger on his pitching hand) was put on the 60-day DL to make roster space for Gomes. ... RHP Corey Kluber (strained quadriceps) threw in the outfield before the game, but there is no timetable when he will throw off the mound again. ... RHP Danny Santana (forearm tightness) could throw a simulated game Monday.Royals: DH Kendrys Morales had only two at-bats Thursday before leaving with a fever and feeling sick, but returned to the lineup Friday.UP NEXTIndians: RHP Trevor Bauer, who will likely start the postseason opener Thursday, will make his final regular season start.Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez, who had a 7.77 ERA in five September starts, makes his sixth start of the season against Cleveland. Calvin Johnson Womens Jersey . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. Austin Bryant Womens Jersey . No. 13-seeded John Isner and No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber were among six players who dropped out of the tournament on Tuesday, joining No. 12 seed Tommy Haas and two other players who withdrew on Monday. http://www.shopdetroitlionsnfl.com/lions-jahlani-tavai-black-jersey/ . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Marvin Jones Jr Jersey . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. Kenny Golladay Lions Jersey . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. DETROIT -- Eddie Rosario raced over to the gap in left-center field and made the catch before bouncing off the wall, keeping the game tied through eight innings.The Minnesota left fielder was just getting started.Rosario hit a two-run homer in the ninth, capping a three-run inning that gave the Twins a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. Max Kepler had already homered in the ninth to give Minnesota the lead before Rosario added a couple insurance runs.Rosario said he was happier about the catch than the home run.I go through everything to catch that ball, Rosario said.Detroit wasted a fine start by Justin Verlander, who gave up a run and two hits in eight innings. Francisco Rodriguez (1-1) retired the first two batters of the ninth before Kepler sent a drive to right field to break the 1-all tie.Rodriguez then made a throwing error and appeared to be shaken up, but after a conference at the mound he stayed in the game and allowed the two-run shot by Rosario.Ryan Pressly (3-5) earned the win in relief, and Brandon Kintzler pitched the ninth for his sixth save.Minnesotas Joe Mauer and Detroits Ian Kinsler homered in the first inning, and that was all the scoring until the ninth.The last-place Twins took two of three from the playoff-chasing Tigers, with Detroit managing only four runs in the series.Were in an offensive funk that started before this series, and theres not really much you can do about that, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. We barreled up a lot of balls again today, but they were either right at someone or they ran them down.Verlander struck out nine and walked two. Minnesotas Ervin Santana allowed one run and six hits in seven-plus innings.Santana hadnt allowed a homer since June 19, but Kinsler sent his first pitch of the game over the fence in left, tying the score at 1. The Tigers had only one more baserunner through five innings, then squandered opporttunities in the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth.dddddddddddd.Detroit had runners on first and second and nobody out in the sixth when Cameron Maybin hit into a double play. The Tigers had men on second and third in the seventh when James McCann flied out to end the inning. With two on and two out in the eighth, Victor Martinez sent a drive to left-center, but Rosario made a running catch before hitting the wall.Detroit had two hits in the ninth but didnt score.STOPPAGEThere was a delay in the seventh when a fan ran onto the field and eluded security for a while. He eventually stopped around the edge of the infield and was tackled.It was a rather long delay, Twins manager Paul Molitor said. You can find humor in it, I guess, but I think with everything that goes on these days, my first reaction is get the heck out of the way. You just dont want to take any chances. I think that was affirmed by the tackle.ROSTER MOVESMolitor said RHP Neil Ramirez has cleared waivers and will be sent to Triple-A Rochester. The Twins will recall LHP Buddy Boshers.TRAINERS ROOMTigers: RHP Jordan Zimmermann (right neck strain) is expected to throw a bullpen session Thursday, and Ausmus says if that goes well, hell probably go on a rehab assignment Sunday. ... OF Tyler Collins was scratched before the game because of neck spasms. ... LHP Daniel Norris (right oblique strain) will have another rehab start Saturday.UP NEXTTwins: RHP Tyler Duffey (5-6) takes the mound Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series at Boston. Steven Wright (11-5) starts for the Red Sox.Tigers: RHP Mike Pelfrey (2-9) starts the opener of a four-game set against the White Sox in Chicago. Pelfrey did not make it out of the second inning Saturday.---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister ' ' '