Guardians maintain slim AL Central lead, beat Royals

José Ramírez, Chase DeLauter and Petey Halpin drew consecutive bases-loaded walks in a five-run ninth inning capped by Angel Martínez’s two-run double, and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Kansas City Royals 12-9 Friday night to maintain a one-game lead over the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — José Ramírez, Chase DeLauter and Petey Halpin drew consecutive bases-loaded walks in a five-run ninth inning capped by Angel Martínez’s two-run double, and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Kansas City Royals 12-9 Friday night to maintain a one-game lead over the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.

Cleveland and Chicago are both assured at least wild card berths. Each team has two games left, and the White Sox hold the division tiebreaker. Rookie Carter Jensen, who had a career-high five RBIs, tied the score 7-7 in the eighth with his second homer of the game, a two-run shot off Hunter Gaddis . Jensen has 27 homers this season.

Nate Pearson walked Nathaniel Lowe on four pitches starting the ninth and, after Travis Bazzana flied out, issued consecutive four-pitch walks to pinch-hitter Patrick Bailey and Brayan Rocchio. Steven Kwan grounded to third baseman Maikel Garcia, who threw home for a forceout, and Ramírez forced in the go-ahead run with a five-pitch walk. Nolan Hoffman relieved and walked DeLauter on five pitches and Halpin on four.

Martínez’s double drove in two runs for a 12-7 lead, and Halpin was thrown out at the plate. Salvador Perez hit his 21st homer in the bottom half, a two-run drive against Matt Festa. Austin Hedges and David Fry homered for Cleveland. Up Next Guardians RHP Tanner Bibee and Royals RHP Michael Wacha start Saturday night. night.

___ See AP’s full MLB coverage here Avery Osen, The Associated Press

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