Ragans strikes out 10, leads Royals to a 4-2 victory that stops Guardians’ 5-game winning streak

Ragans strikes out 10, leads Royals to a 4-2 victory that stops Guardians' 5-game winning streak | iNFOnews.ca
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans delivers against the Cleveland Guardians during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Original Publication Date: April 13, 2025 10:16PM

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cole Ragans struck out 10, walked none and allowed four hits in 7 2/3 innings, getting his first win this season as the Kansas City Royals overcame a two-run deficit to beat Cleveland 4-2 on Sunday and stop the Guardians’ five-game winning streak.

Ragans (1-0), a 27-year-old left-hander who finished fourth in AL Cy Young Award voting last year, gave up two runs — one earned — while throwing 64 of 89 pitches for strikes.

Maikel Garcia had three hits, including a tiebreaking, two-run double off Ben Lively (0-2) in the fifth that put the Royals ahead 4-2. Salvador Perez had tied the score in the fourth with his second home run this season, a two-run drive.

Lucas Erceg got the last out in the eighth and Carlos Estévez allowed a leadoff single in the ninth, then struck out three straight batters for his fifth save in six chances.

No. 9 batter Kyle Isbel also had three hits for the Royals.

Ragans strikes out 10, leads Royals to a 4-2 victory that stops Guardians' 5-game winning streak | iNFOnews.ca
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans delivers against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Lively (0-2) allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings.

Daniel Schneemann had an RBI double in a two-run second.

Royals third baseman/left fielder Jonathan India sat out after leaving Saturday’s game with tightness in the right quadriceps. Guardians center fielder Lane Thomas missed his fifth straight game because of a bruised right wrist.

Key moment

Garcia’s doubled after Freddy Fermin walked and Isbel doubled.

Ragans strikes out 10, leads Royals to a 4-2 victory that stops Guardians' 5-game winning streak | iNFOnews.ca
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans delivers against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Key stat

Perez’s home run was the Royals’ eighth in 16 games this season.

Up Next

Royals: RHP Seth Lugo (1-0, 3.24 ERA) starts Monday night’s series opener at Yankee Stadium against RHP Carlos Carrasco (1-1, 7.71).

Guardians: LHP L.T. Allen (0-1, 3.60) starts a series opener Tuesday at Baltimore, which goes with RHP Charlie Morton (0-3, 8.78).

Ragans strikes out 10, leads Royals to a 4-2 victory that stops Guardians' 5-game winning streak | iNFOnews.ca
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Carlos Estevez (53) reacts after the final out against the Cleveland Guardians at the end of a baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Ragans strikes out 10, leads Royals to a 4-2 victory that stops Guardians' 5-game winning streak | iNFOnews.ca
Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Joey Cantillo delivers against the Kansas City Royals during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Ragans strikes out 10, leads Royals to a 4-2 victory that stops Guardians' 5-game winning streak | iNFOnews.ca
Kansas City Royals’ Michael Massey strikes out on a pitch by Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Joey Cantillo as catcher Austin Hedges looks away during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Ragans strikes out 10, leads Royals to a 4-2 victory that stops Guardians' 5-game winning streak | iNFOnews.ca
Kansas City Royals’ Michael Massey throws out Cleveland Guardians’ Steven Kwan during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Ragans strikes out 10, leads Royals to a 4-2 victory that stops Guardians' 5-game winning streak | iNFOnews.ca
Kansas City Royals’ Maikel Garcia reacts after hitting a two run double off Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Ben Lively during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Ragans strikes out 10, leads Royals to a 4-2 victory that stops Guardians' 5-game winning streak | iNFOnews.ca
Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. breaks his bat on a pitch by Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Ben Lively during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

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