INDIANS Jose Lima looks good in return to rotation

He pitched five innings and got the win, as Kansas City beat Cleveland, 3-2.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Kansas City Royals won two road series, but still fell another game behind the Minnesota Twins.
"It doesn't matter that we didn't gain any ground. We have to continue to play well," Royals manager Tony Pena said. "I'm very happy just to see my ball club go out and give me everything they've got."
Jose Lima pitched five solid innings in his return Thursday night as the Royals beat the Cleveland Indians 3-2 to win their second straight road series.
But Kansas City remained 41/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins, who beat Chicago 5-3 for a three-game sweep.
The Royals now head to Chicago for a three-game series, then finish with seven games at home -- three against Detroit and four against the White Sox.
Tough assignment
It will be tough to catch the Twins. They play seven of their final nine games against the Tigers, who are on the verge of setting a record for losses.
"We're still alive," Pena said. "We have to continue to play hard every single day and win some ball games."
Raul Ibanez was 2-for-4, drove in a key run and made a diving catch for the final out Thursday night.
Lima (8-1) allowed two runs, scattering six hits and a walk for his first win since July 27. He got key double plays in the second and fifth innings to get out of jams.
"We asked him for five innings or between 70 and 80 pitches. He threw the ball well," Pena said.
Lima had been on the disabled list since Aug. 24 with a right groin strain.
"My teammates played great defense behind me. They scored three runs. That's enough," Lima said. "It just feels good to be back and get us on a winning streak."
Bullpen tough
The Royals' bullpen shut down Cleveland the rest of the way.
Jeremy Affeldt threw three hitless innings, striking out four and allowing a walk.
"Affeldt was nasty," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "He was throwing 95 with a big hook and he mixed in his changeup against right-handers."
Curtis Leskanic pitched the ninth for his second save. With two out, Victor Martinez drove the ball to the gap in left but Ibanez snagged it with a diving catch.
"I was kind of surprised he held onto the ball," Pena said. "That was a great catch."
Kansas City took the lead for good with two runs in the third.
Desi Relaford and Mike DiFelice opened the inning with singles. Relaford advanced to third when left fielder Jody Gerut bobbled DiFelice's hard-hit ball, then scored on Angel Berroa's sacrifice fly. Ibanez singled home DiFelice to make it 3-1.
"That RBI was more luck than anything else," Ibanez said. "It was a broken-bat groundball up the middle. Fortunately, I was able to leg it out."
C.C. Sabathia (13-9) went seven innings, giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk. He struck out five.