Royals Beat Hapless Tribe, Remain Technically Alive for Division Title

The Kansas City Royals staved off post-season elimination tonight with a 6-3 victory over the Indians, keeping alive the flame of "OUR TIME" for 2012. Luis Mendoza continued to look perfectly cromulent, giving up just two runs over six innings of work, striking out three and walking two. It was his eleventh quality start of the year, third on the team, despite making just 23 starts.

The Royals jumped on the Indians first and seemed to control the game the entire way, although the Indians never seemed to go away completely. Most of the offensive damage was done by the lower half of the lineup as Brayan Pena and Irving Falu each collected two hits and scored runs. There weren't really any big hits in the game, few highlights to speak of aside from another diving catch from David Lough, but it was a yeoman's effort, with Royals hitters chopping wood, rather than swinging at air.

The Indians at this point just look like a really sad franchise. They have now lost 40 of their last 52 games. Travis Hafner, who once brought the fear of god in me every time he stepped up against the Royals, looked washed up and was pulled for a pinch-hitter in the ninth with the game on the line. Manny Acta - who I think was a sabermetric darling at one point - bunted after the first two hitters singled in the first inning. Shin-Soo Choo looks like he can't wait to sign somewhere else. Even the good young players they have just seem kinda meh. I almost feel sorry for the franchise and wish they would at least consider playing Wesley Snipes, Dennis Haysbert and Tom Berenger if nothing more than for the hijinks that would ensue.