Andrés Giménez hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning off rookie Collin Snider, sending the Cleveland Guardians to a 7-3 win over the injury-riddled Kansas City Royals on Monday night.

Giménez’s shot to center field scored pinch-runner Ernie Clement and Oscar Gonzalez.

José Ramírez hit his 13th homer and drove in three more runs for the Guardians, raising his major league-leading total to 51 RBIs.

Nick Sandlin (4-2) got the win in relief.

Emmanuel Rivera homered for the Royals, who rallied in the eighth but couldn’t stop from falling to 16-31 — the AL’s worst record.

Guardians starter Zach Plesac was in line to improve to 7-0 in 11 starts against the Royals before Kansas City rallied in the eighth.

After Eli Morgan replaced Plesac and set down Kansas City in order in the seventh, Cleveland manager Terry Francona elected to bring in Trevor Stephan. The right-hander didn’t get an out, allowing three straight hits, including back-to-back RBI doubles by Whit Merrifield and Andrew Benintendi that tied it 3-3.

But in Cleveland’s half, Josh Naylor drew a one-out walk off Snider, and Gonzalez singled to right before Giménez drove a 3-2 sinker from Snider over the wall in straightaway center for his fifth homer.
The Guardians tacked on a fourth run on a throwing error by Royals rookie shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.

UP NEXT
Cleveland’s most consistent starter despite a lack of run support, RHP Cal Quantrill (1-3) starts Tuesday against Royals LHP Daniel Lynch (2-3). Pregame begins at 4:30, with game time at 5:10. You can hear the broadcast from the Royals Radio Network on KMMO AM 1300.