Ryan Yarbrough completed a journey he never expected to take.

Two months after suffering facial fractures when he was struck by a 106 mph line drive, Yarbrough returned to the mound Sunday and helped the struggling Kansas City Royals to a 4-1 win over Cleveland that felt extra special.

With his wife, daughter and other family members at Progressive Field, Yarbrough (2-4), who didn’t know what the future held when he was smashed by the liner from Oakland’s Ryan Noda on May 7, pitched six solid innings as the Royals ended a six-game skid.

Yarbrough’s statistical line was less important than him returning from a frightening moment that could have ended his career.

Yarbrough’s return was a huge boost for the Royals, who haven’t had much to celebrate so far this season.

Carlos Hernández pitched two scoreless innings and Scott Barlow finished up for his 11th save, but not without some nervous moments.

Barlow gave up a pair of two-out singles in the ninth before Myles Straw sent a pitch toward the gap in right center. But Isbel got a nice jump and raced to his left before making his diving grab as Kansas City avoided a winless road trip.

Michael Massey hit a two-run triple in Kansas City’s three-run sixth off Shane Bieber (5-6), who came in 6-0 in 14 career starts against the Royals. The right-hander allowed four runs and nine hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Kansas City staggered into the All-Star break at 26-65 – the second-most losses before the break in franchise history.

Isbel led off the fifth with his second homer, a shot over the wall in right-center, to tie it 1-1.

Bieber then hurt himself by hitting Perez – with an 0-2 pitch – and Kansas City’s All-Star catcher scored on Fermin’s double. After Isbel singled, Massey made it 4-1 by pulling his two-out triple into the right-field corner.