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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Jay Bruce homered twice and drove in five runs as the Cleveland Indians battered the Kansas City Royals 10-1 Friday night. It could, however, be a costly victory for the Indians. Corey Kluber won his fourth straight August start, but the Indians' ace pulled up lame while running to cover first base on Eric Hosmer's sixth-inning infield single.
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That prompted a visit from manager Terry Francona and the trainer. Kluber stayed in the game for one more batter, a Melky Cabrera single, before being led off the field by the trainer. Kluber was diagnosed with a right ankle sprain.
Bruce hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning off Ian Kennedy and a three-run blast in the seventh inning off rookie Jake Junis. It was Bruce's 25th multi-homer game and his eighth game of at least five RBIs.
Since being acquired in an Aug. 9 trade with the New York Mets, Bruce is hitting .406 with four doubles, three home runs and 11 RBIs in nine games.
Jason Kipnis and Edwin Encarnacion also homered for the Indians.
Kluber (12-3) is 9-1 since coming off the disabled list on June 1. He threw 74 pitches over 5 1/3 innings, giving up one run and six hits, while striking out four and walking one.
Andrew Miller replaced Kluber and struck out Mike Moustakas, walked Brandon Moss to load the bases and retired Alcides Escobar on a shallow fly to right. Miller came off the disabled list earlier in the day.
The Royals stranded five men in the seventh and eighth innings.
The Indians widened their Central Division gap to 6 1/2 games over the Royals. Cleveland has won seven of eight, while Kansas City lost for the 12th time in 18 games.
Ian Kennedy (4-9) was removed after 2 2/3 innings, his shortest outing since May 21, and took the loss. He has not recorded a Kauffman Stadium victory in nearly a year. He is 0-3 in his past four starts.
The Indians led 3-0 after five batters and two bombs, both an estimated 411 feet.
After one out, Kipnis homered on a 1-1 Kennedy pitch, taking it out to right. Austin Jackson singled and with two out, Bruce went deep to right.
The Royals got a run back in the second when Moss took an 0-2 Kluber pitch over the fence in straightaway center.
The Tribe, however, made it 5-1 in the third and chased Kennedy. Kipnis walked, Bruce singled and Carlos Santana walked to load the bases. Yan Gomes, who homered and drove in four runs Thursday, singled to center to score Kipnis and Bruce.
That finished Kennedy's night. He faced 16 batters and five scored. He surrendered six hits and walked two. Scott Alexander replaced him and retired all four batters he faced.
Kennedy remains wineless in 15 consecutive home starts, which ties a Royals record. Mac Suzuki (1999-2000) and Glendon Rusch (1997-98) registered the same dubious fete. Kennedy's last home victory was Aug. 20, 2016.
NOTES: The Indians activated LHP Andrew Miller from the disabled list. He had been out with right knee tendinitis. OF Abraham Almonte went on the DL with a strained left hamstring. ... The Royals placed RHP Jorge Soria on the 10-day DL with a Grade One left oblique strain. They recalled RHP Kevin McCarthy from Triple-A Omaha. Manager Ned Yost said RHP Brandon Maurer would be first in line to take over Soria's eighth inning setup role. ... Royals C Salvador Perez took two rounds of batting practice on the field. He is on the disabled list with a right intercostal strain. ... Indians 3B Jose Ramirez was held out of the lineup after being struck by a pitch in his right forearm Thursday. X-rays were negative. ... Indians RHP Trevor Bauer and Royals LHP Jason Vargas are the Saturday probables.
