Royals starter Gil Meche (1-1) had retired 16 straight batters and took a 2-1 lead into the eighth. An error by second baseman Alberto Callaspo let the tying run score and finished Meche.

Sizemore followed with his sixth home run.

Jensen Lewis (2-2) worked two scoreless innings for the victory. Kerry Wood pitched a perfect ninth for his third save in as many chances.

Plate umpire John Hirschbeck was examined in the sixth after getting hit in the mask by Mike Aviles' foul ball. Hirschbeck dropped to one knee, but stayed in the game. Hirschbeck was struck in the mask three times and once in the foot during the afternoon.

Ryan Garko led offthe Cleveland eighth with a double and was lifted for pinch-runner Tony Graffanino. Ben Francisco bunted for a single and when Meche's throw skipped away from first baseman Billy Butler, Graffanino ran through third-base coach Joel Skinner's stop sign and was thrown out at the plate.

Pinch-hitter Travis Hafner followed with a single and Asdrubal Cabrera hit a grounder that Callaspo misplayed, making it 2-all.

Meche was lifted for the left-handed Mahay, who gave up Sizemore's home run.

Through seven innings, Meche was in control. The Indians' only baserunners came in the second, when Shin-Soo Choo doubled, stole third and scored on a throwing error by catcher John Buck. Francisco also doubled in the inning.

The Royals tied it at 1 in the third when Mitch Maier walked and scored on a double by Callaspo.

Kansas City took the lead in the fifth when Coco Crisp led off with a single, stole second, and following a walk to Callaspo, went to third on a sacrifice bunt. Indians starter Anthony Reyes appeared close to escaping when Butler tapped back to the mound for the second out, but Crisp broke for home after Reyes threw to first.

First baseman Ryan Garko's throw to the plate skipped away, and the Royals had a 2-1 lead.

Notes

Royals OF Jose Guillen is expected to be activated from the 15-day disabled list on Saturday. Guillen partially tore his right hip flexor tendon on April 9, but ran the bases on Wednesday and reported no problems ... Aviles' single in the sixth snapped an 0-for-13 skid. He was dropped Thursday from second to eighth in the Royals' order. ... David DeJesus grounded out following a 10-pitch at-bat in the Royals third inning that included seven consecutive foul balls ... Cleveland OF David Dellucci, on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus, entered Thursday hitting .417 through three games. Dellucci opened the season on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left calf.