Bauer gets 12th win as Indians shut out Royals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Trevor Bauer pitched well, but he credits his defense for this victory.

Bauer threw 6 1/3 innings as the Cleveland Indians beat the Kansas City Royals 5-0 on Saturday night.

Bauer (12-8) won his fifth straight decision — the longest winning streak of his career that started after a July 17 loss. He gave up seven hits, walked two and struck out four.

"Defense, for sure," Bauer said. "I wasn't sharp tonight. I got a lot of balls barreled right at me. I was able to make a couple pitches here and there when I needed to, but mostly Carlos (Santana) made two outstanding plays at first, and made a couple other good ones. (Jason) Kipnis made a really nice play. (Giovanny) Urshela made a really great play at third. It was just the defense playing really well."

Relievers Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen did not allow a hit over the final 2 2/3 innings to complete the shutout.

Bauer joins teammates Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco as 12-game winners. The Indians are the only team in the majors with three 12-game winners.

"Trevor made some pitches, he got some good defense behind him because he was working quick and throwing strikes," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "And he doesn't back down. I think in big situations, he's kind of coming through like more often than not."

Roberto Perez delivered the clutch blow, a two-out, two-strike, two-run single in the fourth inning that scored Jay Bruce and Santana.

"It's frustrating," losing pitcher Jason Vargas said. "When you do things to get yourself in a position to get out of it and put the team in a position to stay in the ball game and then you just make a mistake. I just feel like it's been happening too often."

Jose Ramirez and Jason Kipnis hit consecutive doubles in the first inning for the first Cleveland run.

Bruce's RBI-double in the fifth scored Ramirez, who had walked, and finished Vargas' evening.

Vargas (14-7), who had 12 victories at the end of June, gave up four runs, six hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings.

ASTROS 3, ATHLETICS 0 Collin McHugh threw six innings, Marwin Gonzalez hit a two-run single and Houston beat Oakland. McHugh (1-2) gave up six hits and struck out three. McHugh, who missed the first 3 1/2 months with right shoulder tendinitis and a right elbow injury, has allowed two runs or fewer in four of his six starts this season.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

PIRATES 6, CARDINALS 4 Adam Frazier homered, doubled and singled as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-4 Saturday to end a six-game losing streak. Frazier hit a two-run homer in the second and doubled off the wall the next inning. Starling Marte and pinch-hitter Jose Osuna also homered for Pittsburgh.

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