Lee’s streak reaches 10 as Indians prevail, 3-1

Cliff Lee’s winning streak is the longest in the majors this season, and he has the most wins with 21.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Cliff Lee said he does not pinch himself about the dream season he is having.

Lee won his 10th straight decision, the longest winning streak in the majors this season, and the Cleveland Indians beat the Kansas City Royals 3-1 Sunday.

Lee, who leads the majors with 21 wins, is 10-0 in 11 starts since a July 6 loss at Minnesota. In those 11 starts, Lee has a 1.84 ERA. He lowered his major league leading ERA to 2.28.

“I really don’t think about it that much,” Lee said. “I think about preparing each day and doing everything I need to do to get ready for my next start. I don’t really reflect back on previous outings and what I’ve done or look too much ahead of today. That’s been a key to me being successful this year. I’m going to continue to have the same mindset.”

It is certainly working this season.

“Obviously, it helps to have success,” Lee said. “When something is working, there is no need to change it.”

Lee (21-2) held the Royals to one run and seven hits — six of them singles — in 7 1/3 innings, while striking out five and walking one. Lee is 4-0 against the Royals this year. Lee has 30.4 percent of the Indians’ 69 victories.

The left-hander, who shut out the Chicago White Sox in his previous start, had his 16-inning scoreless streak halted in the sixth when Albert Callaspo’s two-out single scored Jose Guillen. Lee hit Guillen with a pitch to start the inning.

“Lee comes right after you,” said Mark Teahen, who had two of the Royals’ hits. “He doesn’t walk too many guys. It doesn’t seem like he’s really overpowering.”

The Royals stranded 10 runners and Callaspo’s single was the Royals’ only hit in 10 at-bats with runners in scoring position.

“He had a couple of innings where he had to really make pitches to finish innings off and he did,” Indians manager Eric Wedge said. “That’s been very typical of Cliff this year. Again he had good stuff. He continues to do a good job locating his fastball and moving the baseball around. Kansas City put up some good at-bats, but Cliff was up to the challenge.”

Jensen Lewis got three outs to log his eighth save in nine opportunities.

Victor Martinez drove in all three Cleveland runs. Since returning from the disabled list on Aug. 29, he is 7-for-21 with six RBIs. Martinez had elbow surgery on June 13.