CLEVELAND -- A Monday that started with Salvador Perez making history ended with the Royals sweeping the Indians in a doubleheader at Progressive Field.

After Brady Singer’s complete game (seven innings) in the opener, five Royals relievers finished off the 4-2 win in Game 2. After losing their previous 11 games against the Indians, the Royals began this four-game series with two wins in one day, including a 7-2 victory in Game 1.

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It marked the first time the Royals swept Cleveland in a doubleheader since Sept. 13, 2008, and their first straight (one ticket for both games) doubleheader sweep against the Tribe since July 2, 1984. The last time Kansas City swept a straight doubleheader on the road was Aug. 13, 1991, at Yankee Stadium.

“They’ve been beating up on us pretty good this year,” said Nicky Lopez, who owns a 30-game on-base streak. “But the most important thing we can do as the season’s winding down is to carry some momentum going into the offseason.”

Kansas City had plenty of arms to use after Singer breezed through Game 1, needing 97 pitches for seven innings of two-run ball. The right-hander had his start pushed back from Friday to Monday because he missed time due to health protocols, but he returned not having skipped a beat.

“We could do what we did in the second game because Brady did what he did in the first,” manager Mike Matheny said. “He was exactly what we had hoped for. … It lined up to where we could hit them with everything we had in the second game.”

That started with Joel Payamps, who started Game 2 with an eight-pitch first inning and quick second inning. On Payamps’ 33rd and final pitch, with one out in the third inning, Andrés Giménez turned on a hanging slider for a moonshot of a home run into the right-field corner.

The mistake put the Indians on the board, but Payamps got the Royals through enough of the game to where they could turn to their four high-leverage relievers: Domingo Tapia, Jake Brentz, Josh Staumont and Scott Barlow, who allowed a two-out solo homer in the seventh, but still secured his 14th save of the season.

Payamps and Tapia have been two of the more underrated pickups by the Royals’ front office this season. Both have seen huge improvements to their game -- especially Tapia, who was acquired from Seattle on May 22 for cash. He came to the organization with a big arm and a lot of potential, and he’s become a go-to reliever in big situations for Matheny down the stretch.

“Tapia has turned into something I don’t think anybody wants to face,” Matheny said. “It’s uncomfortable for a righty with the ball bearing in on you at 98, and he’s picked up that split that’s turned into a game-changer because he was so lopsided with his splits. It’s a great addition for our club and organization.”

Tapia faced five Cleveland batters over 1 2/3 innings and struck out four. He was painting 95 mph sinkers, dropping in filthy sliders and using a splitter that registered as a changeup on Statcast -- a mix that fooled the Indians’ lineup. Tapia has developed that splitter at the Major League level, working with pitching coach Cal Eldred and bullpen coach Larry Carter. It’s become a weapon that he can use in any count.

On top of that, Tapia’s command has improved drastically since he was acquired.

What he does to hitters at the plate makes the Royals’ infielders glad they’re not the ones facing him.

“I faced him when he was a starter, like 101-102 [mph] in High-A,” infielder Hanser Alberto said. “So I never want to face that guy again. And I faced him last year against Boston, and it was cold. One pitch, ground ball, see ya. He’s tough, man. That heavy sinker, that splitter, that slider. He’s got really good command right now.”

Tapia hasn’t allowed a run in 13 innings -- dating to Aug. 28 against Seattle -- and he hasn’t allowed a home run since Bo Bichette’s jack on July 30, a span of 24 2/3 innings. Monday marked Tapia’s 24th scoreless outing out of 27 appearances with the Royals.

And the 31-year-old still has rookie eligibility, so he can be factored into next year’s bullpen plan.

“You don’t really know what you have in them -- at least I didn’t -- until they get here and start throwing in front of us,” Lopez said. “The stuff that Tapia and Payamps and Brentz have brought to the table… is huge and is going to be big for us. A strong bullpen is going to be key to our success.”