Indians 4, Royals 3
Ubaldo Jimenez struck out 10 over seven strong innings and was backed by three solo homers as Cleveland maintained its home mastery of Kansas City.
Jimenez (11-9) allowed an unearned run and seven hits for the Indians, who have defeated the Royals six straight times at home. Asdrubal Cabrera, Yan Gomes and Carlos Santana all went deep as Cleveland closed to within 1 1/2 games of idle Tampa Bay for the second wild-card spot in the American League and 4 1/2 of first-place Detroit in the AL Central.
Ervin Santana (8-9) yielded four runs - three earned - on only four hits in seven frames but surrendered three homers for the second time in four starts. Alex Gordon hit a two-run shot and scored twice for the Royals, who fell four games behind Tampa Bay.
Cabrera, who homered for the first time since Aug. 9 on Saturday, drilled a 2-2 fastball over the right-field wall in the second for the game’s first run. Rookie Jose Ramirez scored on a throwing error in the third and Gomes extended the lead in the fifth, lifting a 3-2 fastball into the right-field stands.
Eric Hosmer’s RBI single to right in the sixth cut the deficit to 3-1 before Carlos Santana belted a line drive down the right-field line that initially was ruled foul but overturned after replay. Gordon belted his 18th homer of the season in the eighth off Cody Allen, and closer Chris Perez got himself into a jam in the ninth but retired Gordon with the bases loaded for his 23rd save.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Jimenez fanned 10 for the third time in four starts and has struck out 63 in nine outings since the All-Star break. He is tied with Detroit's Max Scherzer for the third-highest total in the AL over that stretch. … Despite the loss, the Royals are an AL-best 32-20 since the Midsummer Classic. … 3B Ramirez recorded his first major-league hit with a single in the third and finished 2-for-3 before being replaced by Mike Aviles in the ninth.