Indians hold off Royals, win suspended game
CLEVELAND -- More than three weeks later, the Indians got three outs and finally finished off the Royals.
Their timing couldn't be better.
Cleveland moved within 2½ games of Kansas City in the AL wild-card chase on Monday after Scott Atchison struggled but got finished the long-delayed 10th to complete the Indians' 4-3 win in a game suspended on Aug. 31 in Kansas City.
Atchison gave up a two-out RBI single to Nori Aoki in the bottom of the 10th -- Kansas City was the home team on the road -- before getting Omar Infante to pop out for his second save, stranding the tying run at second.
After waiting 23 days, the Indians needed nine minutes to close the gap on the Royals.
Cleveland can creep closer over the next three days as the Indians will face Kansas City for three more games before ending the regular season with a three-game series against Tampa Bay.
Kansas City, which dropped two games behind first-place Detroit in the AL Central, is trying to make the postseason for the first time since 1985. The Royals entered Monday with one of the two wild cards -- Oakland has the other -- and they'll finish the season in Chicago with a four-game series against the White Sox.
Royals manager Ned Yost began a tense week by poking fun at the strange ending.
"These games are a lot less stressful," he said between games. "We ought to have more one- and two-inning games."
Despite injuries, shoddy defense, an inconsistent offense and skeptical fan base, the Indians have a chance to be in the playoffs for a second straight year.
With one week left in September, October is still possible.
"It's about as exciting as it can get," said Indians manager Terry Francona. "I wish we had a lead, but we don't. So rather than complain about it, sometimes you gotta look up and think, `OK, I got up this morning and I was nervous and I'd rather be nervous than packing."'
Before storms hit Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium last month and suspended the game, the Indians took a 4-2 lead in the 10th on pinch-hitter Lonnie Chisenhall's two-out, two-run double off Royals closer Greg Holland (1-3). Not long after, heavy rains caused a 58-minute delay before umpires decided to suspend the game.
Cleveland's two runs in the 10th were unearned after Royals first baseman Billy Butler botched Jason Kipnis' grounder.
The Royals had tied it 2-2 in the ninth off closer Cody Allen (6-4), who couldn't pitch when the game resumed because he had been removed.
Playing meaningful games in the season's final week is new to all the Royals, and a thrill for players like Butler, who is in his eight season with Kansas City.
"We're in the last week and we have a playoff spot in front of us," Butler said. "Whatever happened yesterday doesn't matter. Every day right now is a brand new season. Our games are really important. Each day is like a new beginning."
Butler has never had more fun in the majors.
"It really is, 100 percent," he said. "We have a really good team here. We're looking forward to finishing strong."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Indians: Kipnis continues to be slowed by a sore right hamstring. He missed three games last week, and Francona wants to monitor the second baseman closely. Kipnis will not start Monday's second game but could be used as a pinch-hitter.
UP NEXT
In the regularly scheduled game, Royals RHP Danny Duffy (8-11) will make his first start since Sept. 6 after being sidelined with stiffness in his left shoulder. Cleveland's Carlos Carrasco (8-5) pitched his first career complete game shutout last week, a two-hitter against Houston.
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