Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez, right, and Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez watch Ramirez's home run in the first inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Joey Cantillo allowed four hits in a career-best eight-plus innings, José Ramírez homered, doubled and scored twice, and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Kansas City Royals 2-0 on Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory.

Cantillo (5-3) struck out five and didn’t issue a walk. Cade Smith pitched a scoreless ninth for his 12th save for the Guardians, who entered play 2 1/2 games behind Seattle for the final wild-card spot.

Ramírez, who had three hits, hit a solo homer off Royals starter Noah Cameron (7-6) with two outs in the first. David Fry hit the second of back-to-back to doubles to drive in Ramírez in the fourth.

Cameron, a 26-year-old rookie, gave up two runs on six hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings.

The Guardians, who has won six of seven, beat the Royals 10-2 in the series opener Monday.

Bobby Witt Jr. returned from a three-game absence and Jonathan India was activated off the 10-day IL for Kansas City.

Key moment

Cantillo gave up a leadoff single to Kyle Isbel in the ninth and was replaced by Smith, who got Mikael Garcia to fly out. Isbel moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third when Witt singled before Smith struck out Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez to end the game.

Key stat

The Guardians clinched the season series — and the head-to-head tiebreaker for any postseason implications — over the Royals.

Up next

Kansas City has not announced its starter against Logan Allen (7-11, 4.46 ERA) today in the third of a four-game series.