It may be too late for the Kansas City Royals to make a late run toward a postseason spot in the American League, but they can at least make it hard for the Cleveland Indians to take away their AL Central crown.
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With the win over the Royals (77-74), the Indians (87-63) completed their Major League-leading 11th walk-off victory of the season, which dropped the magic number to clinch the American League Central Division championship to six with 12 games remaining in the regular season.
The Tribe and Royals stood tied since the fifth inning, but Kansas City reliever Brian Flynn allowed two baserunners – the first in walking Jose Ramirez and the second in being unable to field Coco Crisp’s bunt down the first-base line. Salvador Perez made a great play in front of the plate to field the ball and fire to third for the first out of the inning.
Then, after Kansas City when to Soria, Cleveland pinch hitter Rajai Davis smashed an 0-1 pitch up the middle. After Soria recorded an out on a ground ball that ricocheted off the pitcher’s foot and over to first baseman Eric Hosmer, Guyer pinch-hit for catcher Robeto Perez and became the latest to victimize Soria.
However, Guyer calmly fought off a 1-1 pitch and lifted the game-winning double down the line in right field.
“The ball was fair by a couple of inches, where you can’t get to it”, Royals manager Ned Yost said.
The Indians’ only other run of the game came on Carlos Santana’s 33rd home run of the season off of Kansas City starter Edinson Volquez with one out in the bottom of the third inning.
And Tuesday’s start was a step in the right direction, as he allowed one earned run on five hits in 62/3 innings.
Tomlin, because of injuries to Carlos Carrasco (broken right hand) and Danny Salazar (strained right forearm), will be in the post-season rotation if the Indians advance. Tomlin also went 6 2/3 frames and allowed his run on five hits. “We’re trying to do the best we can to help win the Central and get into the playoffs and play deep into the playoffs”. Salazar hasn’t pitched since September 9 but played catch at 60 feet Tuesday.
The over is 7-1-1 in Kansas City’s last 9 road games and is 19-6-1 in their last 26 overall while going 19-6-1 in their last 26 on grass.
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Indians: RHP Corey Kluber seeks his career high-tying 18th victory. Cleveland are 37-14 in their last 51 home games and are 9-1 in Kluber’s last 10 home starts while going 9-1 in Kluber’s last 10 starts.
