AL CENTRAL Fans turn out to see Royals' 9-7 win over Indians

Kansas City pulled to within 31/2 games of the White Sox.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Kansas City Royals, and their fans, still believe.
More than 21,000 fans -- a huge crowd for a September weeknight at Kauffman Stadium -- showed up Wednesday night, lured by the promise of free "Believe" T-shirts and the Royals' first pennant race in years.
Almost all of them stayed to the last pitch of the Royals' 9-7 win over the Cleveland Indians, a victory that pulled Kansas City within 31/2 games of AL Central leader Chicago. The White Sox lost 4-1 to second-place Minnesota.
"We could see those T-shirts, and we could see [injured right-hander] Jose [Lima] getting the crowd fired up," designated hitter Mike Sweeney said. "That was really exciting to see, and hopefully we can continue winning."
Bullpen comes through
The Royals' bullpen, which had been charged with three losses already this month, turned in several clutch performances as Kansas City snapped a four-game home losing streak.
After the Indians roughed up former teammate Brian Anderson for nine hits and six runs in just 41/3 innings, Kris Wilson (6-3) pitched one inning for the win.
Wilson was the beneficiary of Kansas City's five-run fifth, highlighted by Brent Mayne's two-run, two-out double off reliever Rafael Betancourt.
Another run scored on a throwing error on the same play, giving the Royals an 8-6 lead.
Curtis Leskanic got the Royals out of a jam in the sixth, striking out Coco Crisp with Kansas City ahead 8-7 and the tying run on third. Jeremy Affeldt came in with the bases loaded and two out in the seventh, got Victor Martinez to ground out to third, and was perfect for 21/3 innings for his fourth save in as many chances.
"The bullpen was phenomenal," Anderson said. 'I didn't get it done tonight, but the offense and the bullpen did."
Sabathia has food poisoning
The Indians, meanwhile, were forced to scratch starter C.C. Sabathia because of what the team said was a bout of food poisoning.
Chad Durbin, making his second appearance and first start since undergoing Tommy John surgery on his elbow last September, left with one out in the fifth and a 6-4 lead. His replacement, Jose Santiago (1-3), walked in one run and failed to retire any of the three batters he faced.
"I tried to prepare as best I could," said Durbin, who didn't learn he was starting until an hour before the game. "I figured adrenaline would get me through."
The Indians have not determined when Sabathia will start next.
Cleveland took a 6-3 lead with five runs -- all before making an out -- in the fourth inning.
Alex Escobar hit a two-run single, and Josh Bard followed with a three-run homer into the left field bullpen.
Escobar and Jody Gerut had three hits each for the Indians, who out-hit the Royals 13-12. Escobar's three hits were a career high.
Kansas City's Rondell White hit a two-run double in the first inning.