Cleveland ? Win after win, the Cleveland Indians stay atop the AL wild-card race while trying to close even more on the Chicago White Sox.

Casey Blake and Grady Sizemore hit consecutive fifth-inning homers in a 3-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night that kept Cleveland a half-game ahead of the New York Yankees in the wild-card chase.

Scott Elarton (10-7) gave up one run and five hits in 72â3 innings as the Indians won for the 10th time in 11 games to remain 41â2 games back of first-place Chicago in the AL Central.

“It’s hard not to look at the standings, but you know what’s going on,” said Blake, a Wichita State product whose two-run homer put Cleveland ahead, 2-1. “We expect to win every game, but we can’t afford to start looking at other teams.”

Cleveland's Casey Blake, a Wichita State product, watches the flight of his two-run home run against Kansas City. The Indians beat the Royals, 3-1, Friday in Cleveland.

Cleveland is a major-league best 31-11 since July 31, cutting a division deficit that was 15 games Aug. 1.

Kansas City won two of three from Chicago before coming to Cleveland. The Royals lost their 97th game, seven shy of the team record set last season.

Elarton held the Royals hitless until Aaron Guiel singled to start the fourth. Guiel was quickly erased on a double play, one of four turned by the Indians.

“Go figure,” Kansas City manager Buddy Bell said. “You hit into four double plays, that’s not good.”

Kansas City’s only run was a two-out homer by Mark Teahen in the fifth – the 29th long ball allowed by the right-hander this year.