Masterson survives early jams

Brantley homers twice to help Tribe

The Indians’ Justin Masterson allowed nine hits over 6 1/3 innings pitched while allowing just two earned runs, striking out eight.

CLEVELAND — Justin Masterson managed to hang around for 6 1-3 innings and win for the sixth time at home, leading the Cleveland Indians to a 6-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night.

Masterson (9-5) sidestepped some early trouble without giving up any runs and improved to 6-1 with a 2.29 ERA in nine starts at Progressive Field. The right-hander struck out eight while allowing two runs and nine hits.

Michael Brantley hit a pair of solo homers for the up-and-down Indians, who moved within 3½ games of first-place Detroit in the AL Central. Mike Aviles drove in two runs and Michael Bourn scored twice for Cleveland.

Unable to get a hit for four innings off Luis Mendoza (2-4), Brantley homered in the fifth and the Indians added three runs in the sixth. Brantley connected again in the eighth.

Despite the loss, the Royals have won 11 of 15.

Masterson, as close to an ace as the Indians have in their rotation, is 5-0 in his last six starts at home and has won nine of his past 13 decisions in Cleveland.

It wasn't a certainty he would survive the first few innings as the Royals put two runners on in the first and second but failed to score. Kansas City stranded eight runners in the first five innings and Masterson got a big defensive play by first baseman Mark Reynolds to get out of a pickle in the fourth.

Masterson was lifted in the seventh, and although he was far from dominant, Indians fans gave him a warm ovation as he headed to the dugout.

The Indians, who have struggled to score lately, didn't get their first hit off Mendoza until the fifth and then chased the right-hander during their three-run sixth.

With two on and none out, Aviles hit a ball to deep left that probably should have been caught by Alex Gordon, but the two-time Gold Glove winner dropped it, allowing Drew Stubbs to score and tie it at 2.

Jason Kipnis followed with a well-timed bunt single to load the bases and Mendoza threw four straight balls to Carlos Santana, forcing in Bourn with the go-ahead run.

Tim Collins then came in and allowed Brantley's sacrifice fly that made it 4-2, but after giving up a single, he kept the Royals within two by striking out pinch hitter Ryan Raburn and getting Lonnie Chisenhall on a groundout.

However, the Indians tacked on an insurance run in the seventh when Bourn doubled, stole third and scored on Aviles' fly ball to right.

Cleveland also got solid relief work from Bryan Shaw, who pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings.

PEREZ UPDATE: Indians closer Chris Perez will throw at least one more bullpen session and may make another rehab appearance in the minor leagues before coming off the disabled list.

Perez, who has been sidelined with a strained rotator cuff since May 27, had expected to be activated on Friday. Following a shaky outing on Tuesday at Double-A Akron, the Indians won't rush him back.

Manager Terry Francona said Perez's mechanics were off when he allowed five earned runs — three homers — in a one-inning stint against Trenton. In one three-pitch sequence, he gave up a home run, hit a batter, and allowed another homer. Perez also recorded two strikeouts in his second rehab outing.

Perez will receive his usual treatment today, an off day for the Indians, and will pitch a bullpen session at Progressive Field on Friday before the Indians open a three-game series with Minnesota. The team will re-evaluate the right-hander. Francona said Perez "probably" needs another minor league stint.

"Mechanically I think he's fighting it a little bit," Francona said. "He understands when he comes in and pitches the ninth inning and the game is on the line that he needs to be in top form or pretty damn close to it. So we're going to make sure we get him there."

Francona said the two-time All-Star has no physical problems.

Earlier Wednesday, Perez had his court appearance for a drug charge moved to next month.

Perez and his wife, Melanie, recently pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor drug abuse after a package containing marijuana was delivered to their rental home in Rocky River, Ohio.

Perez's attorney, Terry Gilbert, said Wednesday that the two-time all-star's court appearance was waived. Perez is due in court on July 9.

Police said they were tipped off by postal inspectors to suspicious packages mailed to the Perez home and arranged a delivery under surveillance on June 4.