The Cleveland Indians dropped their magic number to clinch the American League Central Division to 4 on Wednesday by beating the Kansas City Royals, 5-2.
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Santana’s shot in the sixth inning off Dillon Gee snapped a 2-2 tie as Cleveland improved to 9-1 against Kansas City.
“We had a few chances, but we’re not creating a whole lot of run-scoring opportunities for ourselves right now”, manager Ned Yost said after his team scored just six runs in the series. “This year we did”.
At this point, finishing above.500 is a more attainable goal. The bottom of the sixth had started with Gee hitting second baseman Jason Kipnis and walking shortstop Francisco Lindor.
Aside from a Jason Kipnis solo home run in the first inning, the rest of the Indians’ offensive production came courtesy of Santana. Santana then tapped his hand over his heart and smiled toward National Basketball Association free agent J.R. Smith, whose outside shooting helped the Cavaliers win an National Basketball Association title earlier this summer and end the city’s 52-year drought without a major pro championship.
“It wasn’t an bad pitch, he made the adjustment and got enough of it to get it out”, Gee said.
Santana went 7 for 12 with five RBI in the Indians’ series sweep.
“I understand”, he said. “That’s a good trait to have”. 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.
With Cleveland starters Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar dealing with injuries and likely out for the playoffs, Clevinger could hold a pivotal role for the Indians in October.
Clevinger spent the next three innings working into and out of trouble.
The Cleveland bullpen shut the door in the final four innings. Erick Aybar drove in two runs for Detroit, which moved a half-game ahead of Baltimore for the second wild card and trails Toronto by one game.
Upton hit a tiebreaking homer off Alex Wimmers (1-3) in the seventh for a 2-1 lead.
Royals designated hitter Kendrys Morales is finishing the season strong after struggling the first two months. It’s been a breakout power season for Santana, who had never hit 30 homers before.
“You try to stay as sharp as you can”, said Otero. “As he pitches more and gains more confidence, you’ll see him attacking more”. “He was going through a tough period”. It was Escobar’s sixth homer in his last 149 at-bats.
Royals: OF Lorenzo Cain (inflammation in left wrist) hasn’t played since September 9 and could miss the rest of the season. His.239 ISO is a career high, and his.365 wOBA is his best since his 2010 rookie season.
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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.
