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CLEVELAND -- With another win, the Royals stepped closer to history and a playoff berth. Theyve got a much bigger goal in mind. Rookie Yordano Ventura blanked Clevelands punchless offence for seven innings as Kansas City kept pressure on first-place Detroit in the AL Central with a 7-1 win over the Indians on Tuesday night. Following the game, the Royals retreated to their clubhouse to watch the ninth inning of the Tigers 5-4 win over Chicago. As they ate their postgame meals, Kansas Citys players roared loudly when the White Sox scored three runs in the ninth to tie it. It got much quieter when Miguel Cabrera delivered a game-winning hit to keep the Tigers one game ahead of Kansas City. Still, the Royals are stalking. Manager Ned Yost knows his club almost has a wild-card berth locked up. However, hes got his sights on a bigger prize. "Im not really interested in the wild card right now," Yost said. "That (magic) number doesnt mean much to me. The wild card has always been Plan B. Were in good shape right now. Our focus is on winning this division." The hard-throwing Ventura (14-10) allowed four singles and threw a 100 mph fastball on his 104th pitch. Salvador Perezs two-out, two-run double off Danny Salazar (6-8) put the Royals ahead 5-0 in the fifth and they turned their attention to the left-field scoreboard to monitor the Tigers score. Kansas City remained one game out of first with five games left. Its been 29 years since the Royals were in the post-season, and that run in 1985 ended with their only World Series title. At 86-71, Kansas City matched its win total from last season. Its the first time the Royals have had consecutive seasons with at least 86 victories since 1977-78. The playoffs are within reach, but the Royals arent banking on anything just yet. "Weve got to stick to the plan," first baseman Eric Hosmer said. "We keep saying it over and over again, but its what you have to do as a team. We went out and took care of our business." The Indians faint playoff hopes grew dimmer. Cleveland trails Kansas City by 4 1/2 games in the wild-card chase with four games remaining. Clevelands offence went into a funk at the worst time possible. The Indians scored an unearned run in the eighth, ending a string of 19 straight scoreless innings. Ventura made his major league debut against the Indians last September, a performance Indians manager Terry Francona called "electric." "Were not hoping for electric tonight," Francona said beforehand. Ventura didnt have to be. The Indians are currently powerless. With a chance to stay in the race in the seasons final week, Cleveland is collapsing. "We didnt win, which we set out to do," Francona said. "The only thing we can do now is play tomorrow and try to win that game." Omar Infantes two-run double in the fourth gave the Royals a 2-0 lead, and with the Indians offence sputtering, Ventura had more than enough cushion to notch his fifth win in six starts and improve to 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA in five career starts against the Indians. Hes 7-1 with a 2.02 ERA in his last eight starts in the division. "Hes a special guy," Yost said. "He has all the makings of being a high-level, upper-tier pitcher in the American League." In the fifth, Salazar, who struck out the side in the first two innings, got two quick outs before Hosmer doubled and scored on Billy Butlers double. Alex Gordon was walked intentionally and Perez drove in two with his shot to left-centre, the ball just clearing lunging left fielder Michael Brantleys glove. Salazar was dominant in the early going, getting six strikeouts in the first two innings with each whiff coming on a wicked change-up that badly fooled the Royals hitters. He escaped a threat in the third, but Salazar wasnt so fortunate in the fourth, when he walked Butler and gave up a single to Gordon before Infante pulled his double into the left-field corner. ROAD RAGE Kansas City has won 16 of its last 23 road games since Aug. 1. MOST YOST Yost managed in his 770th game with the Royals, tying him with Dick Howser for the most in franchise history. Yost has a 370-400 record with the Royals since being hired in 2010. Yost had 457 wins as Milwaukees manager (2003-08). UP NEXT LHP Jason Vargas (11-10), who has recorded the ALs third-lowest ERA (2.42) on the road, starts the series finale for the Royals, who oddly lost as the home team on Monday when they dropped a suspended game. Trevor Bauer (5-8) goes for the Indians, who have lost each of his past four starts after winning four in a row and five of six. Haloti Ngata Jersey . Marcus Olsson, 23, joins Blackburn on a free transfer from Swedens Halmstads. He made 139 appearances and scored 17 goals in his four years with the club. He earned his first caps for Sweden this month, featuring against Bahrain and Qatar. Avonte Maddox Jersey . The eighth-year point guard played in his 500th career game on Sunday, a 98-93 win over the Orlando Magic. Does he feel like hes played in that many games? "No," he said initially, before reconsidering. http://www.authenticfootballshopeagles.com/authentic-customized.html . Van Slyke drove in a career-high four runs with two homers off struggling left-hander Tony Cingrani, and the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled away to a 6-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night, a rare comfortable win in their pitching-dominated series. Markus Wheaton Jersey .B. -- Canadas Rachel Homan opened the Ford Womens World Curling Championship with a 7-5 win over Russia on Saturday. Philadelphia Eagles Jerseys . - In about six minutes, the Memphis Grizzlies had allowed their 23-point lead to be cut to seven.NEW YORK – As the Blue Jays venture into Yankee Stadium for an important three-game series with their foes in pinstripes, there are a number of storylines to latch on to before considering who will take the mound for Toronto on Tuesday night. Its the first-place Blue Jays against the team closest to them in the American League East. Toronto enters the series with a four-and-a-half game lead on the Yankees. Its another chance, the second of what will be as many as six, to wave goodbye to New Yorks future Hall of Fame shortstop, Derek Jeter. Here in New York, the dulcet voice of the late, great public address announcer, Bob Sheppard, brings No. 2 to the plate. Jose Reyes is back in New York, too. He made his name over in Queens playing for the Mets. R.A. Dickey is here but wont pitch. He won the Cy Young award two seasons ago on the other side of the city. Oh, and dont forget about the Blue Jays rookies mound opponent on this Tuesday: a rookie himself, technically, the Japanese phenom Masahiro Tanaka, whos dominated the early days of his major league career like he dominated for years back home. Then there is Marcus Stroman. Its strange that this, essentially a homecoming for a young man raised in the Long Island town of Medford, is somewhat lost in the shuffle. Hes the 23-year-old who stunned general manager Alex Anthopoulos, blowing his bubble gum in the middle of his windup. The kid seems born for the spotlight, even if it will shine more brightly on others. "Im usually pretty good with dealing with things like that," Stroman said on Sunday. "I dont let anything get to me or get me overly excited or kind of get me out of my game. Im fine. Im in a good place mentally. I feel good going into it. I have kind of an off-day just to hang out with friends in the city and then it will be Game on Tuesday." Medford is a sleepy town, according to Stroman, more than an hour from New York City. Its closer to the upscale Hamptons, a drive of about 45 minutes. Medford has one high school, Patchoggue-Medford High School, which Stroman attended before moving on to college at Duke University.dddddddddddd The town will awaken this evening. Many of its inhabitants, in fact, will venture to Yankee Stadium to watch the hometown boy pitch. Stroman has purchased up to 70 tickets for close family and friends. He said hes been told by another 50 or 60 people theyve bought ducats. Hell have a throng of about 130 people here rooting him on. "Anytime you have an opportunity to pitch in front of a bunch of family and friends, its exciting," said Stroman. "I should have a lot of – a bunch of people texting me, bunch of friends from high school, college, a lot of people reaching out to me saying theyre going to be at the game so thats always exciting to pitch in front of people whove been there along the way." Stroman is 3-1 in his first year in the big leagues, 2-1 as a starter. Hes gone six innings in each of his first three starts, losing his last outing against the Twins. In two of those appearances, including the Minnesota defeat, he didnt walk a batter. He has impressed with his fastball. His breaking stuff, particularly his curveball, has baffled opposing hitters. Hes developing his changeup. Hes not developing confidence. He already has it. His coaches brag about it. "I certainly dont see him as a guy whos going to nibble and pitch around guys," said pitching coach Pete Walker. "Hes definitely on the attack. His walks have been down and I would like to think that thats going to continue with him. He certainly trusts his stuff. Theres no doubt about that." Growing up, Stroman went to Yankees games at the old stadium and saw the Mets at Shea. He didnt cheer for either team. He admired players. Like most native New Yorkers, he watched Jeter in awe. On Tuesday night, hell pitch to Jeter. He doesnt know what to expect. "I cant even tell you," said Stroman. "Im sure itll settle in once Im kind of on the mound but Im pretty sure it will be surreal." 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