Slade Cecconi held Kansas City without a hit until the eighth inning and Nolan Jones had a two-run double during a six-run fourth, sending the Cleveland Guardians to a 10-2 rout of the visiting Royals on Monday night.
Cecconi (6-6) only allowed Michael Massey’s leadoff single to center over eight scoreless innings and 100 pitches, while striking out three and walking three. The right-hander won for the first time in nine starts since July 18 against the Athletics.
The Guardians (73-70) moved within two games of the Seattle Mariners for the third and final American League wild-card berth, while Kansas City (73-71) dropped 2 1/2 games back. The Mariners were in action against St. Louis on Monday night.
Zak Kent pitched the ninth and gave up a two-run, bases-loaded single to Jac Caglianone before wrapping up the combined three-hitter and Cleveland’s fourth consecutive win.
C.J. Kayfus, Brayan Rocchio and Daniel Schneemann also had RBI doubles in the fourth off Royals starter Ryan Bergert (2-2), marking Cleveland’s first inning with four RBI doubles since Aug. 13, 2018 against the Cincinnati Reds.
Schneemann drove in another run in the fifth with a grounder to extend the Guardians’ advantage to 9-0. Kyle Manzardo joined Schneemann with three hits and two RBIs, and Kayfus, Rocchio, Steven Kwan and Schneemann each scored twice.
Cleveland’s last no-hitter occurred on May 15, 1981, when Len Barker threw a perfect game for the then-Indians against the Toronto Blue Jays at Cleveland Stadium. Kansas City was most recently no-hit on May 19, 2008 by Jon Lester of the Boston Red Sox.
Bergert, who graduated from GlenOak High School in nearby Canton, Ohio, allowed career highs of eight runs and 11 hits in 3 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out three and walked three in his seventh start since being acquired from the San Diego Padres.
Two-time All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (back) missed his third straight game and remains listed as day to day by Royals manager Matt Quatraro.
Kansas City began a seven-game road trip and will play 12 of its final 18 away from home. The Guardians are 7-4 in the midst of a stretch of 17 straight days with games.
