JACOBS FIELD Central-dominating Royals defeat Indians

Kansas City improved to 22-6 in the division with a 3-1 win.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Surprising the rest of the AL Central doesn't seem to be good enough for the Kansas City Royals anymore. They're out to dominate their division.
Chris George pitched out of trouble for most of his 52/3 innings Tuesday night and the Royals won another game in the Central, 3-1 over the Cleveland Indians.
The Royals are 22-6 inside the division, and coupled with Minnesota's loss in Chicago, Kansas City moved into a virtual tie for first -- a percentage point ahead of the Twins.
"I'm not sure what it is," George said when asked about the Royals' Central superiority. "We know we've got a chance to win this thing, and we've been playing well in the division, and out of it."
George (9-4), who is among the league leaders in wins despite a 6.18 ERA, allowed one run and seven hits to win his fourth straight start. The left-hander walked three, struck out three and was on the ropes from his first pitch.
However, he was able to get the big out when he needed one and the Indians helped by going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position against George.
"That's him," Royals manager Tony Pena said.
Escape artist
George has become the AL's great escape artist.
"That's been the norm for me recently," George said. "I've had a lot of runners on base, but one way or the other I've gotten out of it."
Mike MacDougal, Kansas City's fourth pitcher, put two on in the ninth before getting Milton Bradley to ground out for his 17th save in 21 tries.
The loss snapped Cleveland's winning streak in the division at eight, and the Indians can blame that on their inability to get the clutch hit -- especially against George.
"We almost got him," Casey Blake said. "That's kind of been the story of our year. But give him credit. He had a good changeup and kept us off balance."
Angel Berroa, Aaron Guiel and Mike DiFelice -- Kansas City's Nos. 7, 8 and 9 hitters -- drove in runs.
After George danced around trouble for five innings, Kansas City scored two runs in the sixth off rookie Jason Davis (6-6) to take a 3-1 lead on Guiel's sacrifice fly and DiFelice's RBI single.
Blown lead
The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the first, but probably should have scored more runs off George, who came in with a 7.16 ERA in his last three starts.
George was let off the hook again in the third, fourth and fifth innings. The Indians stranded two runners in the third and fourth and left them loaded in the fifth when Blake flied out to the wall in left for the final out.
"I needed a little wind," Blake said. "When I saw the trajectory, I thought it was at least off the wall. I was a little disappointed."
George said he held his breath while watching Blake's ball soar toward left.
"I thought it was gone when he hit it," George said. "That was the biggest play of the game as far as I'm concerned. That's the way things have been going for me lately. I've been getting a lot of breaks and that was another one."