Carrasco and Bauer stifle Royals' bats in 2-1 win

Adalberto Mondesi of the Royals beats the ball and the attempted tag by Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor to steal second during Sunday afternoon's game at Kauffman Stadium.
Adalberto Mondesi of the Royals beats the ball and the attempted tag by Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor to steal second during Sunday afternoon's game at Kauffman Stadium.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Carlos Carrasco was sharp in Cleveland's regular-season finale, then proclaimed himself ready for what's next to come.

Carrasco and Trevor Bauer combined for a five-hitter, Francisco Lindor homered and scored twice, and the Indians beat the Kansas City Royals 2-1 on Sunday.

Carrasco (17-10) was working with a limited pitch count in a tuneup before an anticipated start in Game 2 of the American League Division Series against Houston on Saturday. He went five innings, allowing one run on three hits, walking two and striking out six.

"I finished the season strong," said Carrasco, who wrapped up the regular season with a 3.38 ERA. "More important is getting ready for the postseason. The way that I pitched today, I just tried to find myself and get ready for that game. Everything that I'm looking for, I found it."

Manager Terry Francona saw a lot to be happy with.

"He threw the ball really well," Francona said. "Good changeup and breaking ball. I think he's situated in a really good place heading to the playoffs."

Bauer took over in the sixth, hurling four scoreless innings of relief while striking out two for his first career save.

Bauer ended the season with a 2.21 ERA, second in the American League to Tampa Bay's Blake Snell.

The Indians opened the scoring after Lindor led off the game by reaching on an error when Eric Skoglund (1-6) fumbled his grounder. After stealing second, Lindor then stole third and scored when Alcides Escobar failed to catch the throw to third for the second error of the inning.

Lindor drilled a 1-0 pitch into the stands in left-center field to lead off the third, extending the Indians' lead to 2-0. He hit seven of his 38 homers this year against the Royals.

Skoglund allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits and two walks, striking out three in five innings.

The Royals got on the board in the fifth when Brian Goodwin led off with a hit and stole second, then scored on Meibrys Viloria's single.

Whit Merrifield closed the season with a single in the eighth, extending his hitting streak to a career-best 20 games. The streak was the longest of the year in the majors.

Kansas City's attendance fell by 555,213 from the previous year - nearly 7,000 per game - and finished at 1,665,107, the team's lowest since 2010. The club stumbled to its worst season since 2005, when it set a team record for most losses at 106. The 58-104 mark this year matched the 2004 team for the second-worst record in franchise history. This was the fifth time the club lost at least 100 games.

Merrifield finished the season with 192 hits and 45 stolen bases, leading the majors in both categories. "It was a monster accomplishment," Yost said.