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CLEVELAND (AP) \u2014 Nick Loftin singled in the tying run and scored on Maikel Garcia\u2019s double in the seventh inning, sending the Kansas City Royals to a 4-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
Kansas City snapped a three-game losing streak and moved within 3 1\/2 games of Seattle, which holds the third and final American League wild-card position. The Guardians are three behind the Mariners.<\/p>\n
Cleveland led 3-2 after six before Loftin drove in Tyler Tolbert, then came around on Garcia\u2019s liner off the wall in left against Hunter Gaddis. Tim Herrin (5-4) was charged with both runs.<\/p>\n
Luinder Avila (1-0) worked two scoreless innings for his first career win and Carlos Est\u00e9vez pitched the ninth for his major league-leading 39th save.<\/p>\n
Kyle Manzardo hit a two-run homer in the first and Bo Naylor had an RBI single in the fourth for Cleveland, which had won five straight. Manzardo\u2019s 432-foot shot off Jonathan Bowlan was the longest of his career and his 26th homer of the season.<\/p>\n
Vinnie Pasquantino and Jonathan India both singled in runs for Kansas City. Pasquantino reached 100 RBIs for the first time.<\/p>\n
Guardians starter Logan Allen gave up two runs in five innings, remaining winless in seven outings since July 29.<\/p>\n
Jac Caglianone walked with one out in the seventh and was replaced by pinch-runner Tolbert, who scored on Loftin\u2019s pinch-hit single off Herrin. Gaddis entered and gave up Garcia\u2019s RBI double.<\/p>\n
Kansas City used six pitchers with Bowlan logging the first two innings. Michael Wacha was slated to start before suffering a concussion as a result of what manager Matt Quatraro termed \u201can off-field accident.\u201d<\/p>\n
Royals RHP Stephen Kolek (5-5, 3.88 ERA) faces Guardians RHP Gavin Williams (10-5, 3.17 ERA) in the four-game series finale on Thursday.<\/p>\n
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AP MLB:\u00a0https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/mlb<\/a><\/p>\n