Bobby Bradley, Cleveland Indians lower the boom on Royals, 2-1, with another walk-off win

© John Kuntz/cleveland.com Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie throws in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals, July 9, 2021, at Progressive Field.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Triston McKenzie didn’t have stage fright Friday night. That was a good thing because the Indians had to overcome another obstacle — hitting into a double play at third base.

In the end it didn’t matter because the Indians’ walk-off magic is still alive at Progressive Field. Bobby Bradley hit a leadoff homer in the ninth off Jake Brentz to give Indians a 2-1 victory over the Royals. It was their seventh walk-off win of the season and their second in as many nights.

McKenzie, in his best outing of the season, breezed through seven innings and left with a 1-0 lead. But Emmanuel Clase blew his second save in his last three appearances as Jorge Soler homered with one out in the eighth. It was the first homer Clase has allowed this year.

© John Kuntz/cleveland.com Cleveland Indians second baseman Cesar Hernandez fields a grounder off the bat of Kansas City Royals Andrew Benintendi for the out in the third inning, July 9, 2021, at Progressive Field.

The Indians were in position to retake the lead when Daniel Johnson singled to start the eighth. The single ended Johnson’s 0-for-15 slump as he continued to second on a throwing error by center fielder Michael Taylor. Cesar Hernandez followed with a single to right as Johnson was stopped at third.

© John Kuntz/cleveland.com Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Brad Keller throws in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians, July 9, 2021, at Progressive Field.

Amed Rosario sent a grounder to Nicky Lopez at short. Johnson broke for home, but stopped halfway and got into a rundown. Hernandez came around second and reached third as Johnson got back to third safely as well.

Catcher Salvador Perez, who took Lopez’s throw from short, ran to third and tagged out Johnson — who had popped off the bag — and then tagged Hernandez. Third base umpire James Hoye called them both out. Manager Terry Francona was ejected for arguing the call.

© John Kuntz/cleveland.com Cleveland Indians center fielder Bradley Zimmer chases down a line drive for the out off the bat of Kansas City Royals Ryan O’Hearn in the second inning, July 9, 2021, at Progressive Field.

The rules state that two runners cannot occupy a base at the same time while the ball is live. The following runner in this case, Hernandez, can be tagged out. The base belongs to the first runner, Johnson, but he made the mistake of leaving the base.

© John Kuntz/cleveland.com Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie throws in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals, July 9, 2021, at Progressive Field.

The last time McKenzie pitched at Progressive Field, he didn’t make it out of the first inning. He walked four and allowed a base hit against the Mariners. After the game he said the size of the crowd got to him. He didn’t say the 20,000-plus made his knees knock, but he didn’t have to because the message was clear.

Friday night McKenzie returned to that same mound and worked it like a veteran Shakespearean actor. It may not have qualified for an Oscar, but it helped the Indians win consecutive games for the first time since June 20-21. Not only that, he was working in front of a bigger crowd (21,395) than his last start.

McKenzie has a reputation of walking the ballpark and striking it out as well. When he arrived in Cleveland for this start, he hadn’t pitched in a big-league game for 25 days. Yet he was still ranked fifth among AL pitchers with 39 walks.

He switched the script Friday night, walking one batter through seven rapid-fire innings. As for the strikeouts, they stayed the same. McKenzie struck out nine while allowing one hit. He has 68 strikeouts in 49 1/3 innings. He’s averaging 12.41 strikeouts per nine innings.

© John Kuntz/cleveland.com Cleveland Indians center fielder Bradley Zimmer connects on an RBI single off Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Brad Keller in the second inning, July 9, 2021, at Progressive Field.

Bradley Zimmer’s RBI single in the second gave McKenzie a 1-0 lead. Franmil Reyes, the walkoff hero from Thursday’s 7-4 win, walked to start the second against Brad Keller. Bradley walked as well and Oscar Mercado moved Reyes to third with a fly ball to right. Zimmer followed with his single to left.

The Royals have lost 14 of their last 17 games.

Next: RHP Cal Quantrill (0-2, 4.20) vs. LHP Mike Minor (6-7, 5.36) on Saturday at 6:10 p.m. Bally Sports Great Lakes and WTAM will carry the game.

New Indians face masks for sale: Here’s where you can buy Cleveland Indians-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All MLB proceeds donated to charity.

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© John Kuntz/cleveland.com Cleveland Indians first baseman Bobby Bradley (C) is mobbed at home plate after hitting a walk off home off Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Jake Brentz in the ninth inning, July 9, 2021, at Progressive Field.

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Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie throws in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals, July 9, 2021, at Progressive Field.

© John Kuntz/cleveland.com