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CLEVELAND -- As the days in September dwindle, the Kansas City Royals understand that this October will be very different for them.Their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, the Royals were beaten 5-2 on Thursday night by the Cleveland Indians, who swept the three-game series and pushed the defending World Series champions nearer to elimination.Dylan Gee (7-9) gave up a three-run homer to Carlos Santana in the sixth inning as the Indians moved closer to their first AL Central title since 2007. Kansas City was eliminated from the division race on Wednesday and began the night trailing six teams in the wild-card race.Youre not going to live a charmed life forever, and we did last year by not really suffering any major injuries, manager Ned Yost said. This year we did.With the loss, the Royals went 1-9 in Cleveland this season.Alcides Escobar hit a two-run homer for Kansas City (77-76), which cant afford many more losses to have any chance of returning to the playoffs.At this point, finishing above .500 is a more attainable goal.Gee hit Jason Kipnis to start the sixth and Francisco Lindor walked. One out later, Santana drove his 34th homer into the right-field seats. After he crossed home plate, Santana pointed at NBA free agent swingman J.R. Smith, who helped the Cavaliers win the NBA title this year and end Clevelands 52-year championship drought.It wasnt an awful pitch, he made the adjustment and got enough of it to get it out, Gee said. Hitting a guy and walking a guy makes it tough to pitch.Santana went 7 for 12 with five RBI in the Indians series sweep.Its been that kind of year for the Royals, who have endured a number of injuries to key players. Catcher Salvador Perez, third baseman Mike Moustakas, outfielders Alex Gordon and Lorenzo Cain, and closer Wade Davis all missed extended time.Ive been very proud of the way this team continues to battle through all adversity, Yost said. They dont quit. Theyre every bit into these games as they were at this time last year. Thats a good trait to have.Royals left-hander Jason Vargas made just his second start since coming back from Tommy John surgery last year. He allowed a homer to Kipnis and an RBI double to Santana in the first and went four innings.Im just happy to go out there and be healthy and not have any issues when I come out of the game, said Vargas.With Cleveland starters Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar dealing with injuries and likely out for the playoffs, Mike Clevinger could hold a pivotal role for the Indians in October. The rookie showed poise in working out of potential trouble as the Royals put the leadoff man on in three straight innings.It was a solid postseason audition for Clevinger, who allowed four hits in five innings before giving way to Clevelands solid bullpen.The Indians jumped on Vargas for two runs in the first.Kipnis made it 1-0 with his 23rd homer. Once he was back in the dugout, the second baseman was carried through a lineup of welcoming teammates by catcher Chris Gimenez and outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall, a celebratory ride that has become a staple this season.NO SURPRISERoyals designated hitter Kendrys Morales is finishing the season strong after struggling the first two months. Morales leads the majors with 26 RBI in September and has hit 29 homers, the second-highest total of his career.You knew it would be a matter of time until he turned it around, Yost said. Theres too much talent not to. You dont see him losing his skills. He was going through a tough period.Escobars shot to center tied it 2-2 in the second. It was Escobars sixth homer in his last 149 at-bats, quite a power surge for the shortstop who had homered just once in his previous 600 at-bats.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals: OF Lorenzo Cain (inflammation in left wrist) hasnt played since Sept. 9 and could miss the rest of the season.UP NEXTRoyals: LHP Danny Duffy (12-2) will match a career high by making his 25th start this season as Kansas City begins a three-game set in Detroit. With a win, Duffy will have the most wins by a Royals left-hander since Charlie Leibrandt won 13 in 1988. Custom Los Angeles Dodgers Jerseys . In the lead up - which seemed to begin the moment Mike Geiger blew the whistle in Houston last Thursday night - the Impact rumour mill went into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety. Los Angeles Dodgers Store . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. https://www.cheapdodgersonline.com/ . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning. Stitched Dodgers Jerseys . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. Wholesale Dodgers Jerseys . Spiller left Week 3s 27-20 loss to the New York Jets with a thigh injury, but fully practiced with the team all week and expects to be ready to go on Sunday. Baylor?senior running back Shock Linwood will skip the teams Motel 6 Cactus Bowl against Boise State?on Dec. 27 to focus on his NFL future, a Baylor spokesperson confirmed.Linwood finishes as the all-time leading rusher in school history with 4,213 yards but is ending his college career a game early after an up-and-down season in which he broke school records but was also suspended for attitude issues and lost his starting job.Linwood rushed for 751 yards and two touchdowns this season. He started only five games and was suspended for the Bears 45-24 loss to Oklahoma in November by interim coach Jim Grobe, who said Linwood had just not been himself.He broke Baylors career rushing record inn September against Rice and also leaves as the schools all-time leader in career rushing touchdowns (42) and rushing yards per attempt (5.dddddddddddd9).His decision comes soon after two other high-profile running backs, LSUs Leonard Fournette and Stanfords Christian McCaffrey, decided to sit out their teams bowl games to focus on preparing for the NFL draft.Fellow Baylor running back Terence Williams (knee) is expected to be healthy enough to play against the Broncos. Williams, a sophomore, leads the Bears with 945 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns this season. ' ' '