Slumping Bo Naylor hits 3-run home run in Guardians' 8-5 win over Royals.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Bo Naylor entered Thursday afternoon batting .127 with 10 hits, a homer and four RBIs in 79 at-bats this season. The Guardians catcher sent a jolt into the ball and those substandard stats during an 8-5 win over the Royals to end a road trip. Naylor hit a three-run home run into the right-field bullpen in the seventh inning to cement the victory. He added a single in the ninth. "It's awesome. It's been a tough start for Bo, to see him break out a game and extend the lead for good was huge," manager Stephen Vogt said. "He works tremendously hard every day. Really fun day for Bo." Kyle Manzardo's two-run double opened the scoring in the first to lead the Guardians. They greeted Seth Lugo with five hits in the three-run first, highlighted by Manzardo's shot to the wall in right-center. "It's huge. Putting pressure on them, keeping them out there on the field," Naylor said of the fast start. "Gets the vibes going in the dugout, as well. That's something we feed off of." Petey Halpin got his first career RBI with a third-inning single, extending Cleveland's lead to 4-0. In the sixth, Halpin walked, stole second and scored on Carter Jensen's passed ball for a 5-1 lead. "He just changes the game, he impacts the game, whether it's defense, baserunning, at the plate," Vogt said. "He can hurt teams in multiple ways." In 5 1/3 innings, Slade Cecconi (2-4) limited the Royals to two runs on six hits while walking three and striking out three. Cecconi walked two in the first, but escaped a bases-loaded situation as the Royals twice left the bases full. Kansas City left 10 runners on base, six in scoring position. "I thought Slade threw the ball really well," Vogt said. "Got himself into some trouble at times but really made pitches when he needed to." Cade Smith struck out two to earn his 10th save. With the four-game series split, the Guardians have won or split nine consecutive series against American League Central division rivals, going 22-8 since losing two of three in Kansas City on July 26-27, 2025. Rookie Chase DeLauter doubled to extend his hitting streak to a career-best 11 games while batting. 487. Each Guardians hitter in the starting lineup recorded a hit. Maikel Garcia's RBI single got Kansas City on the scoreboard in the fifth. Bobby Witt Jr. collected four hits, matching a career high. The Royals scored three against Cleveland's bullpen, including back-to-back seventh-inning homers by Witt and Vinnie Pasquantino. Lugo (1-2) labored through four innings, throwing 102 pitches while surrendering four runs on seven hits and four walks, striking out five. Royals pitchers walked eight as the Guardians piled on 20 baserunners. The Guardians went 4-3 on the trip that started in Sacramento, California. "What a great road trip by our guys," Vogt said. "Long, tough travel, long days, to come home with a winning record, really good for us." Up next Cleveland hosts a weekend series against Minnesota as Guardians LHP Parker Messick (3-1, 2.40 ERA) opposes Twins LHP Connor Prielipp (1-0, 3.86) in the opener Friday night. Kansas City hosts Detroit with Tigers RHP Keider Montero (2-2, 3.48) opposing Royals LHP Kris Bubic (3-1, 3.32).