Kansas City, Mo. ? Maybe it’s time to quit saying Jose Lima is on the comeback trail.

“Lima Time” delivered another strong start, and Joe Randa drove in a season-high four runs Tuesday night, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 6-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

“I just feel good,” Lima said. “You can see the smile on my face every inning. Two months ago I was in the independent league.”

Lima, who hadn’t won three starts in a row since 1999 when he was a 21-game winner with Houston, gave up five hits in seven innings to a Cleveland lineup that rapped out 31 hits in a doubleheader sweep the night before.

Randa had a three-run homer and a season-high four RBIs for the Royals, who slipped past Minnesota back into first place in the AL Central.

“It feels great to go out there and stop the bleeding,” said Lima, who signed a free-agent contract June 11 after starting the year with the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League.

Lima’s earned-run average, which was 7.77 in 20 games for Detroit last year, fell to 3.20 in four starts with the Royals as he beat the Indians for the second time in two weeks.

“For the most part, he kept the ball down,” said Cleveland’s Casey Blake, a Wichita State product who singled in the ninth to stretch his hitting streak to 12 games. “He pitched backwards, throwing a lot of sliders and changeups in the hitter’s count, getting you to chase. He’s a pretty good story, the comeback he’s making.”

Lima gave up a leadoff triple to Coco Crisp, who scored on Matt Lawton’s infield grounder. But Lima then allowed only one single until Lawton hit a towering 425-foot home run with two outs in the sixth.

Kansas City pitcher Jose Lima laughs at a joke made by third baseman Joe Randa in the fifth inning. Lima won his third game in the Royals' 6-3 victory over Cleveland Tuesday in Kansas City, Mo.

Lima walked one and struck out two.

Mike MacDougal got two outs — including Brandon Phillips’ groundout to second with the bases loaded to end it — for his 21st save.

Ricardo Rodriguez (3-9) walked Michael Tucker leading off the four-run second and gave up a double to Aaron Guiel. Angel Berroa had an RBI groundout and Brent Mayne singled ahead of Randa’s home run into the stands in left field.

Randa’s RBI double made it 5-1 in the fourth and Carlos Beltran hit an RBI single.

Rodriguez gave up four runs, four hits and three walks in 1 2/3 innings, becoming the first Cleveland starter not to go into the fifth inning in 20 games.

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“He had trouble commanding the ball,” Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. “He had to work real hard and his pitch count was getting up. I didn’t want him to go one more batter. I don’t want to put him in harm’s way.”

Following Lawton’s homer in the sixth, Milton Bradley hit a shot that bounced off the wall in left. He was called out by umpire Dan Iassogna at third following a strong throw to the bag by Michael Tucker.

Bradley argued heatedly and replays indicated he was probably safe.

Notes: Cleveland manager Eric Wedge, another WSU product, still has a hoarse voice, but said he was about over the cold he’s had for about a week. … The Indians sent RHP Jose Santiago back to Triple-A Buffalo Tuesday, one day after calling him up, and brought up LHP Alex Herrera. … The Royals scheduled RHP Kyle Snyder for an MRI after he left Monday night’s game after four innings because of tightness in his shoulder. … Bradley went 1-for-3, leaving his average at .341.

Kansas City third baseman Joe Randa watches his three-run home run sail over the fence in the second inning against Cleveland. The Royals beat the Indians, 6-3, Tuesday in Kansas City, Mo.