Carlos Carrasco struck out a career-high 15 batters and allowed just a seventh inning single to Alex Rios as the Cleveland Indians rained on the Kansas City Royals’ parade, 6-0, on Friday night.

In their first game since winning the American League Central Division for the first time in franchise history, the Royals came out flat, which did not help as Carrasco brought his best to the mound on Friday. He struck out all 15 batters on swinging and saw just three batters reach base and faced just two over the minimum on the night. He became the first pitcher in Indians history to throw a complete game with 15 hits and one hit or fewer.

The Indians supported him with a run in the first on a one-out home run by Jose Ramirez against Royals’ potential game one starter, Edinson Volquez. Abraham Almonte made it a 3-0 game with a two-run homer to right in the second and Roberto Perez erased any remaining doubt in the seventh with a two-run shot to left off of Royals reliever Franklin Morales. They added a ninth inning insurance run on a fielder’s choice from Francisco Lindor.

Cleveland (76-76) improves to 26-0 on the season on the road when scoring four runs or more and 46-2 overall. They pulled back within three games of the Houston Astros for the second AL Wild Card spot and are just two games in back in the loss column with ten games remaining on the docket. They hopped over the Baltimore Orioles, who lost, and picked up a full game on the Minnesota Twins, who they now trail by a game and a half. They kept pace with the Los Angeles Angels, who lead the Indians by two games in the race to the finish line.

Josh Tomlin (6-2) will start for Cleveland Saturday night against right-hander Kris Medlen (5-1) First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM ET.

W: C. Carrasco (14-11)
L: E. Volquez (13-9)

HR: J. Ramirez (5, 1st inning off Volquez, 0 on, 1 out); A. Almonte (5, 2nd inning off Volquez, 1 on, 1 out), R. Perez (6, 7th inning off F. Morales, 1 on, 0 out)

Photo: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel