Indians complete sweep of Royals on Santana's blast
CLEVELAND -- Carlos Santana's three-run home run in the sixth inning broke a tie and lifted the Cleveland Indians to a 5-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals Thursday night at Progressive Field.
Cleveland completed a three-game sweep of the defending World Series champions. With Thursday's win, the Indians reduced their magic number for clinching the American League Central Division title to four.
Reliever Dan Otero (5-1) pitched two scoreless innings of one-hit relief with two strikeouts to get the win. Closer Cody Allen pitched the ninth inning to earn his 29th save.
Royals reliever Dillon Gee (7-9) gave up three runs on two hits and two walks in 2 2/3 innings to take the loss.
With the score tied at 2, the bottom of the sixth inning began with Gee hitting Jason Kipnis with a pitch and Francisco Lindor drawing a walk. Gee retired Mike Napoli on an infield fly for the first out.
But Santana belted an 0-1 pitch from Gee over the right field wall for his career-high 34th home run, a three-run shot that pushed the Indians into a 5-2 lead.
In the last five games Santana is 9-for-15, with three doubles, three home runs and five RBIs.
Cleveland starter Mike Clevinger was removed from the game after five innings and the Indians' bullpen was outstanding, holding the Royals scoreless on two hits over the last four innings. Otero was followed by Bryan Shaw and Allen.
Royals starter Jason Vargas, making his second start since returning from Tommy John surgery, gave up a one-out solo homer to Kipnis in the first inning. Kipnis hit an 0-2 pitch into the seats in right field for his 23rd home run.
Lindor then drew a walk and, after Mike Napoli struck out, Santana clubbed a double to center field, scoring Lindor to make it 2-0.
With two outs in the second inning, Alex Gordon singled and rode home on Alcides Escobar's seventh home run, over the center field fence, tying the game at 2.
Vargas, who was on a pitch limit, retired the last 10 men he faced before being removed after 70 pitches and four innings. He gave up two runs on two hits, with four strikeouts and one walk.
NOTES: Indians RHP Bryan Shaw gets overshadowed in Cleveland's bullpen because he usually pitches after LHP Andrew Miller and before RHP Cody Allen, the closer. However, in his past 42 appearances before Thursday, Shaw had a 1.40 ERA and held opposing hitters to a .182 batting average. ... Indians OF Rajai Davis, 35, led the AL with 40 stolen bases heading into Thursday's action. He could become the oldest player to lead either league in steals since Rickey Henderson, at age 39, led the AL with 66 steals in 1998. ... Royals C Salvador Perez threw out Davis in the sixth inning Wednesday. It was the 30th attempted base-stealer Perez caught this year. The Kansas City record of 32 was set by Jason Kendall in 2010. ... LHP Danny Duffy will start for the Royals on Friday in Detroit against Tigers RHP Michael Fulmer. Indians RHP Trevor Bauer will face Chicago White Sox RHP Miguel Gonzalez on Friday in Cleveland.