KANSAS CITY, Mo. — (AP) Josh Naylor homered in the ninth inning, sending the Cleveland Indians to a 5-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
Naylor greeted Wade Davis with a leadoff drive to right for his second homer. Nick Wittgren struck out the side in the eighth for the win, and James Karinchak worked the ninth for his third save.
Cleveland (16-13) trailed 4-0 after five innings. It has rallied to win in the first three games of the four-game set, leading to a three-way tie for first place in the American League Central division.
Tensions were high at Kauffman Stadium one day after controversial MLB umpire Ángel Hernández admitted he "guessed" when he initially ruled a ball hit Tuesday by Royals catcher Salvador Pérez had been caught when it had actually hit the warning track. Hernández made several more questionable calls while working behind the plate Wednesday and eventually ejected KC manager Mike Matheny and pitching coach Carl Eldred for arguing a balk by starter Brady Singer. Singer himself was later thrown out for screaming at Hernández after being replaced in the game.
The Tribe scored three times in that eventful sixth inning before José Ramírez tied it in the eighth with his ninth home run of the season. One inning later, Naylor belted his second of the year to complete the comeback.
The Indians will go for the sweep Thursday afternoon behind the pitching of the promising-but-struggling Triston McKenzie (0-1, 6.27 ERA). Danny Duffy (4-1, 0.60 ERA) will start for the Royals.