CLEVELAND -- Despite sweltering heat, Corey Kluber continued to work Wednesday afternoon without skipping a beat.
As temperatures rose steadily into the mid-90s, the Indians' ace worked methodically while mid-afternoon sun beat down on Progressive Field. Kluber struck out 10 and held the last-place Royals (46-93) to one run on two hits over 6 2/3 strong innings, helping secure a 3-1 win to take the series and reduce the American League Central-leading Tribe's magic number to nine games.
"He pitched really well," Indians manager Terry Francona said of Kluber. "The breaking ball had some shape to it, and he throws that two-seamer in to the lefties because it starts going back and forth. That's fun to watch."
Kluber (18-7) retired 10 in a row to start the game until Alex Gordon doubled to left to become the Royals' first baserunner in the fourth. Kluber struck out the next batter, but he left a 1-1 sinker floating at the top of the zone. Ryan O'Hearn punished it and legged out a run-scoring triple. Kansas City's first baseman, however, was stranded at third after Jorge Bonifacio struck out on a 3-2 curveball.

"Against me, they're always aggressive," Kluber said. "I think we kind of prepare for that coming into it. Basically, it kind of just comes down to executing pitches early in the count. When they're going out there and being aggressive, you don't want to go out there and give them good pitches to hit early on in the count."
Kluber's start bested Royals starter Brad Keller (7-6), who held the Tribe to three runs (one earned) across seven-plus innings. Cleveland (79-60) opened scoring in the second after Jason Kipnis laced a one-out double off the padded wall in left field, one of three straight hits. Kipnis moved over to third on a single from Yan Gomes, who was thrown out at second trying to extend a single. Greg Allen plated Kipnis on a line-drive single to left.

"Both were fantastic, in my estimation," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Kluber, he's one of the best in this league. Keller was fantastic. I think half of the hits against him were against the shift or bleeders."
Encarnacion drove in the go-ahead run in the fifth, bringing home Michael Brantley, who began the rally with a one-out single. Yandy Diaz chopped a ball up the middle, misplayed by shortstop Alcides Escobar, which allowed Brantley to advance to third. Encarnacion knocked in Brantley on a forceout to give the Tribe a 2-1 lead.

In the seventh, Kluber issued a one-out walk to O'Hearn, his only free pass of the game. After a short infield meeting orchestrated by pitching coach Carl Willis, Kluber's outing ended after striking out Bonifacio for the third time with another curveball in the dirt. He gave way to lefty Oliver Perez, who struck out Brian Goodwin on six pitches.
Following Kluber's departure, the bullpen struck out six of the next seven to end the game. After Perez fanned Goodwin, Cody Allen then whiffed two in a perfect eighth, and Brad Hand struck out the side in the ninth to notch his 32nd save of the year and his eighth since joining the Indians in July.
"Our guys did a really good job of attacking," Francona said. "Oliver came in and got his lefty. Cody had a good inning, and Brad had a good inning on a day where we got our hits."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Guyer adds insurance:Brandon Guyer entered the game in the seventh as a defensive replacement for right fielder Melky Cabrera, and he delivered a clutch hit in his only at-bat. Yonder Alonso led off the eighth inning with a single, setting the table for Guyer, who executed a perfect bunt down the third-base line. It was fielded by third baseman Hunter Dozier, but nobody was covering first base. Dozier double clutched, allowing O'Hearn to cover, but his throw went wide, allowing runners to advance to second and third with nobody out. The play ended Keller's day, and Kipnis (2-for-3) knocked Alonso in with a sac fly.
"It was a big play for us," Francona said. "We want to put him in because he covers more ground than Melky, but then when he adds to our offense, that's certainly welcome."

SOUND SMART
With 10 K's, Kluber marked his fifth double-digit-strikeout game of the season and the 44th of his eight-year career. Indians starters have combined for 25 10-plus-strikeout performances, tying the club's single-season record, also held by the 1968 and 2017 teams. Additionally, Kluber became the first pitcher in baseball to 18 wins.
"The goal every day is to win the game," Kluber said. "I think there's going to be times where things are out of your control. You might pitch fairly well, but the guy on the other side pitches lights-out. But I think that more so than actually getting the win, it's giving your team a chance to win."

UP NEXT
Right-hander Shane Bieber (8-3, 4.66 ERA) is scheduled to start the first of four games against the Blue Jays in a 7:07 p.m. ET first pitch on Thursday. Bieber was handed the loss after allowing four runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings against the Rays on Saturday. The rookie has never faced Toronto and will be making his Rogers Centre debut. The Jays have yet to announce a starter.