KANSAS CITY -- The obstacles for the Indians were seemingly endless: seven relief pitchers used, two bases-loaded jams in the last four innings to extract themselves out of, and one hit from the middle of the fifth to the start of the 11th.Through all this, Cleveland remained unfazed in its 3-2 extra-inning win over the Royals on Saturday night at Kauffman Stadium. 
Michael Brantley delivered the game-winning hit in the top of the 11th, when he chopped a single over the a drawn-in Kansas City defense, scoring Jose Ramirez, who ignited the rally with a leadoff triple. Carlos Santana padded the lead with an RBI single.The Indians threatened in the bottom half of the frame. Salvador Perez drove in Jarrod Dyson, but was left stranded after Josh Tomlin struck out Erik Kratz.The win closed the gap between the Royals and Indians to 3 1/2 games with the finale of the three-game series coming Sunday. Kansas City dropped into a tie for first place with the Tigers in the American League Central.Yan Gomes drove in the Indians' first run with an RBI double off Royals starter James Shields in the fourth inning. Gomes returned from the seven-day concussion disabled list just one day earlier. He's 3-for-7 since being activated.Kansas City tied the game in the eighth inning on a fielder's choice by Lorenzo Cain. The Indians needed four relievers to keep the score tied at 1.Trevor Bauer twirled 5 2/3 scoreless innings, registering his second straight zero-run outing, a career-first for Bauer. He struck out six batters, all over the first three innings.Bauer did not make it easy on himself as he walked five and allowed four hits.He survived by tiptoeing around a number of sticky situations.The first one was also potentially the most explosive. Bauer navigated around a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the first inning with three straight strikeouts.Bauer needed help escaping his third jam of the night in the sixth. He got two quick outs, before walking Raul Ibanez, then allowing a double to Lorenzo Cain. With left-handed-hitting Mike Moustakas at the plate, Indians manager Terry Francona summoned southpaw Kyle Crockett. The rookie induced a ground ball to second base, and Jason Kipnis made a fantastic play to his right to potentially save two runs.Cleveland got on the board when Kipnis and Gomes whacked back-to-back doubles in the fourth inning, putting the Tribe ahead, 1-0.Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway was ejected in the first inning by third-base umpire Bill Welke for arguing a disputed check swing call with Ibanez at the plate.Jackson Alexander / MLB.com
Michael Brantley delivered the game-winning hit in the top of the 11th, when he chopped a single over the a drawn-in Kansas City defense, scoring Jose Ramirez, who ignited the rally with a leadoff triple. Carlos Santana padded the lead with an RBI single.The Indians threatened in the bottom half of the frame. Salvador Perez drove in Jarrod Dyson, but was left stranded after Josh Tomlin struck out Erik Kratz.The win closed the gap between the Royals and Indians to 3 1/2 games with the finale of the three-game series coming Sunday. Kansas City dropped into a tie for first place with the Tigers in the American League Central.Yan Gomes drove in the Indians' first run with an RBI double off Royals starter James Shields in the fourth inning. Gomes returned from the seven-day concussion disabled list just one day earlier. He's 3-for-7 since being activated.Kansas City tied the game in the eighth inning on a fielder's choice by Lorenzo Cain. The Indians needed four relievers to keep the score tied at 1.Trevor Bauer twirled 5 2/3 scoreless innings, registering his second straight zero-run outing, a career-first for Bauer. He struck out six batters, all over the first three innings.Bauer did not make it easy on himself as he walked five and allowed four hits.He survived by tiptoeing around a number of sticky situations.The first one was also potentially the most explosive. Bauer navigated around a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the first inning with three straight strikeouts.Bauer needed help escaping his third jam of the night in the sixth. He got two quick outs, before walking Raul Ibanez, then allowing a double to Lorenzo Cain. With left-handed-hitting Mike Moustakas at the plate, Indians manager Terry Francona summoned southpaw Kyle Crockett. The rookie induced a ground ball to second base, and Jason Kipnis made a fantastic play to his right to potentially save two runs.Cleveland got on the board when Kipnis and Gomes whacked back-to-back doubles in the fourth inning, putting the Tribe ahead, 1-0.Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway was ejected in the first inning by third-base umpire Bill Welke for arguing a disputed check swing call with Ibanez at the plate.Jackson Alexander / MLB.com
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