CLEVELAND — Corey Kluber allowed two runs and struck out nine in 6 1/3 innings, and the Cleveland Indians defeated the Kansas City Royals 4-3 on Wednesday night, eliminating the reigning World Series champions from the AL Central race.
The Indians, who led Detroit by seven games in the division going into Wednesday, reduced their magic number for clinching the Central to five.
Carlos Santana was 4 for 5 with an RBI single in the eighth. Jose Ramirez drove in the go-ahead run in the fifth with his third double of the game.
Kluber (18-9) matched his career high in wins and is 10-1 in his last 14 starts, strengthening his case to win his second AL Cy Young Award in three years.
Cody Allen allowed Salvador Perez's leadoff homer in the ninth, but recorded his 28th save in 31 opportunities. Catcher Roberto Perez threw out pinch-runner Terrance Gore trying to steal second for the first out and Allen retired the final two batters.
Ian Kennedy (11-10) allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings and lost for the first time since July 25.
The Royals reached the World Series in each of the last two years and defeated the Mets in five games to win their first title since 1985 last season.
Kansas City was favored to repeat as division champions, but dealt with injuries to key players all season. Perez, the Royals' All-Star catcher, third baseman Mike Moustakas, left fielder Alex Gordon, center fielder Lorenzo Cain and closer Wade Davis all missed significant time.
The Royals haven't been in first place since June 15 after they swept a three-game series from the Indians that moved the teams into a tie. Kansas City is 42-45 since and has fallen to third place.
Lonnie Chisenhall's RBI single put Cleveland ahead in the second. Run-scoring singles by Kendrys Morales and Perez gave Kansas City the lead in the third when the Royals strung together four straight two-out hits.
Santana doubled to start the fifth and scored the tying run on Jason Kipnis' double. Ramirez's double to center broke the tie.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
ROCKIES 11, CARDINALS 1 The St. Louis Cardinals picked up a win before a pitch was even thrown when reserve outfielder Jose Martinez captured a playful, pregame staredown with Colorado reliever Carlos Estevez. Too bad for the Cardinals that didn’t count in the standings. They sure could’ve used it. Nolan Arenado hit a grand slam, German Marquez pitched five solid innings for his first major league win and the Rockies slowed the Cardinals’ playoff chase with an 11-1 victory on Wednesday. The Cardinals, who had won four straight, entered the day tied with New York and San Francisco atop the NL wild-card standings. The Mets and Giants both played later. Arenado broke open the game in the second with his NL-leading 39th homer of the season. His fourth career slam made it 6-1.