KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)– Francisco Lindor broke up Kansas City’s no-hit bid with a bunt single off reliever Ryan Madson leading off the seventh inning, and the AL Central champion Royals beat the Cleveland Indians 3-0 Sunday with a five-pitcher two-hitter.
Chris Young (11-6), making his first start since July 28 after nearly two months in the bullpen, pitched five hitless innings. He allowed one walk, struck out two and threw 68 pitches.
Danny Duffy struck out two in a perfect sixth for the Royals, who already have clinched their first division title in 30 years.
On the first pitch from reliever Ryan Madson, who was pitching from the stretch, Lindor laid down a bunt that third baseman Jose Ramirez, who was playing back, picked up with his bare hand about 40 feet from home plate. Ramirez’s one-hop throw to first was not nearly in time.
A day after climbing above .500 for the since April 9, the Indians (77-77) fell four games behind Houston (82-74) for the AL’s second wild card with eight games left.
Cleveland’s only previous baserunner before Lindor was Michael Brantley, who walked with two outs in the fourth. Lorenzo Cain tracked down Jose Ramirez’s liner to right-center in the third for the closest to a hit off him.
Brantley followed Lindor’s hit with a walk and, one out later, Lonnie Chisenhall lined out to Madson, who threw to first baseman Eric Hosmer trying for an inning-ending double play. The throw was off line and in the dirt as Brantley eluded Hosmer and got back safely, while Lindor came home.
Kansas City asked for a video review, but after a 71-second delay the call was not overturned — Hosmer tagged Brantley with his glove while the ball was in his throwing hand.
Third baseman Mike Moustakas claimed Lindor did not tag up before running home. Crew chief Dane DeMuth called for an umpire’s review and, after a 3:27 delay, umpires ruled Lindor left early and was out.
Kelvin Herrera worked a flawless eighth, and Wade Davis gave up a double to Jason Kipnis in the ninth as he finished for his 14th save in 15 chances.
Kansas City took a 2-0 lead in the fourth against Danny Salazar (13-10) when Hosmer hit an RBI double and scored on Moustakas’ groundout. Alex Gordon singled in a run in the seventh.
