Eddie Rosario kept his bat on his shoulder. Salvador Perez held his glove still to frame the pitch.
Both listened for Dan Bellino to make the call.
The plate umpire waited a tense moment before finally signaling ball on what could just as easily have been strike three, giving Rosario another chance. He swatted the very next pitch into the right-field stands for a tiebreaking three-run homer Monday night that sent Cleveland to an 8-6 win over the Kansas City Royals.
The No. 34 overall pick in the 2018 draft, Lynch overcame some early nerves to allow four hits and four walks and left to a standing ovation with a 3-1 lead.
The Royals wasted a chance to regain the lead and put pressure on Cleveland in the sixth. They loaded the bases with two outs before Andrew Benintendi hit a weak grounder to the right side of the infield to end the inning.
C Cam Gallagher (concussion protocol) was place on the seven-day IL and C Sebastian Rivero recalled just before the first pitch. … SS Adalberto Mondesi (oblique) could begin a rehab assignment next week, GM Dayton Moore said.
Royals LHP Mike Minor (2-1, 5.26 ERA) on Tuesday night at 7:10.