By MATT PIKE
Cleveland starter Joey Cantillo allowed four hits in a career-best eight-plus innings, José Ramírez homered, doubled and scored twice, and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Kansas City Royals 2-0 for their fifth straight victory, pushing the Royals farther back in the race for an AL Wildcard spot.
Ramírez, who had three hits, hit a solo homer off Royals starter Noah Cameron with two outs in the first. David Fry hit the second of back-to-back to doubles to drive in Ramírez in the fourth inning for the only runs the Guardians needed in the victory .
Cantillo struck out five and didn't issue a walk. Cade Smith pitched a scoreless ninth for his 12th save for the Guardians, who entered play 2 1/2 games behind Seattle for the final wild-card spot.
Cameron took the loss, falling to 7-7 on the season, gave up two runs on six hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings. At the plate, Jonathan India was 2-for-3 in his return from the 10-day IL for Kansas City. Bobby Witt Jr, who was back in the lineup, and Vinnie Pasquantino were both 1-for-4.
Kansas City looks to snap a three game losing streak tomorrow against Cleveland. Jonathan Bowlan (1-2, 3.57 ER) will start for the Royals against Logan Allen (7-11, 4.46 ERA) for the Guardians. First pitch is again at 5:40pm with pregame coverage beginning at 5 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
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