José Ramírez hit a three-run homer in the Cleveland Guardians’ 6-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.
Ramírez put AL Central champion Cleveland ahead for good at 4-3 in the sixth with his 29th home run of the season. The 404-foot blast off Brady Singer (10-5) gave the All-Star third baseman 121 RBI — second in the AL behind New York’s Aaron Judge.
Kansas City dropped its fourth in a row as the teams opened a six-game series to end the regular season.
Singer absorbed his first loss since Aug. 3, giving up six runs in 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander was 6-0 with a 1.89 ERA in his previous nine starts, firmly establishing himself as Kansas City’s ace.
LHP Kris Bubic (2-13, 5.81 ERA) will start for Kansas City Saturday at 5:10.