Indians 6, Royals 5: Carlos Santana had two RBIs, including a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the seventh, as visiting Cleveland edged Kansas City in the opener of a three-game series.

Jason Giambi added a run-scoring double into the right-field corner later in the inning as the Indians won their fifth consecutive game. Chris Perez worked out of a self-induced ninth-inning jam for his eighth save in 10 chances as Cleveland maintained a half-game lead over the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central.

Kansas City pulled within one in the bottom of the eighth on Billy Butler’s double but Vinnie Pestano extinguished the threat by getting David Lough to bounce into a double play with runners on first and third. Cody Allen (3-0) got the final out in the sixth for the victory and Tim Collins (2-3) suffered the loss.

Cleveland pushed across two first-inning runs when Santana walked with the bases loaded and ensuing batter Mark Reynolds was hit by Luis Mendoza’s pitch. The Indians loaded the bases again in the fourth and added two runs on Asdrubal Cabrera’s single.

Kansas City loaded the bases with two singles and a walk in the fifth before Alex Gordon smacked a tying grand slam over the right-field fence off a 3-0 pitch from Corey Kluber.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Cleveland RF/1B Nick Swisher had three hits and is 7-for-15 over his last four games. … Butler went 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to eight games. … Kluber allowed four runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings, while Mendoza gave up four runs and six hits in four innings.