Cleveland ? The winningest pitcher on the Royals was unable to get them back on track.

Edinson Volquez allowed four runs, including two homers, in five innings Monday night as the surging Cleveland Indians defeated Kansas City 8-3.

The defending AL champs lost for the eighth time in 10 games, but hold a two-game lead over Toronto for the best record in the Junior Circuit.

“This stretch, it’s like the flu, you’ve just got to let it run its course,” said Kansas City manager Ned Yost, whose team leads the Central by nine games over Minnesota with 19 to play.

“Once it runs its course, you’re fine, but it’s not a whole lot of fun while you’re going through it.”

Volquez (13-8) absorbed his first loss since Aug. 12, surrendering a leadoff home run to Jason Kipnis in the first and a solo shot to Giovanny Urshela in the fourth. The right-hander gave up seven hits and struck out four.

The Indians, who are 41/2 games out of the second AL wild-card spot, scored four runs off relievers Kelvin Herrera and Franklin Morales in the final two innings.

“I know a lot of people are going crazy about the way we’ve been playing, but we’re still up by nine games in the division,” Volquez said. “We know how to play, nobody in here is worried about that. We’ve heard what’s being said, but we’re still confident in ourselves.”

Royals left fielder Alex Gordon homered on the first pitch of the game and went 4-for-5 with two RBIs. Center fielder Lorenzo Cain and catcher Salvador Perez had two hits apiece.

Cleveland right-hander Carlos Carrasco (13-10) struck out nine over six innings and didn’t allow another run after Gordon led off with his 12th homer of the season.

Kansas City pulled within 4-3 in the seventh on back-to-back, two-out infield singles off Indians reliever Bryan Shaw. Gordon and second baseman Ben Zobrist plated Perez and right fielder Alex Rios, respectively, before Cain flew out to end the rally.

“Stuff just isn’t going our way right now, but we know we’re in a good place in our division,” said Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer, who went 0-for-3.

“This is something that every team goes through, and we know we’re going to the playoffs. We’ve got a lot of time to clean it up before October.”

ANOTHER FAN HIT

The game was delayed briefly in the seventh inning when a woman seated several rows behind the Indians’ dugout on the third-base side was struck by a ball hit by Lindor. Medical personnel and ushers quickly tended to the woman, who walked under her own power to a first aid station in the ballpark.

STATUS QUO

Royals RHP Johnny Cueto, who has a career-high five-game losing streak, will make his scheduled start Friday in Detroit. The former Reds ace is 2-6 with a 5.43 ERA since being acquired by Kansas City on July 26. “More than anything else, Johnny is not establishing his fastball down in the zone,” Yost said. “And his cutter and changeup are getting hit.”

GRAND TOUR

United States Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus threw out the ceremonial first pitch, completing his feat of doing so at all 30 major league ballparks.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Louis Coleman (right shoulder) is listed as day-to-day after the back of his shoulder tightened up Sunday at Baltimore.

Indians: RHP Corey Kluber (right hamstring) threw a pregame bullpen session and will perform fielding drills Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Kris Medlen owns an 8-2 record and 2.21 ERA in 23 career appearances in the month of September.

Indians: RHP Josh Tomlin seeks to extend his five-game winning streak. He is 5-1 with a 2.85 ERA on the season.