CLEVELAND -- Corey Kluber moved the Cleveland Indians one step closer to the AL Central title while eliminating the reigning World Series champions from the race.Kluber allowed two runs and struck out nine in 6 1/3 innings, and the Indians defeated the Kansas City Royals 4-3 on Wednesday night.The Indians, who lead Detroit by 7 1/2 games, reduced their magic number for clinching the Central to five.Its what we work for all offseason, spring training play games early on to have this chance come September, Kluber said. We know were in a good spot, but were not looking ahead. We have a lot of work to do.Carlos Santana was 4 for 5 with an RBI single in the eighth. Jose Ramirez drove in the go-ahead run in the fifth with his third double of the game.Kluber (18-9) matched his career high in wins and is 10-1 in his last 14 starts, strengthening his case to win his second AL Cy Young Award in three years.Cody Allen allowed Salvador Perezs leadoff homer in the ninth, but recorded his 28th save in 31 opportunities. Catcher Roberto Perez threw out pinch-runner Terrance Gore trying to steal second for the first out and Allen retired the final two batters.Perez pumped his fist after throwing out Gore, who was successful on all 17 of his career regular season stolen base attempts going into the game.I was excited, said Perez, who credited Allen for making a quick delivery to the plate. You know nobody has thrown him out.That was huge, Allen said. He bailed me out. That changes the whole dynamic of the inning. That was a big-time play.Ian Kennedy (11-10) allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings and lost for the first time since July 25.The Royals reached the World Series in each of the last two years and defeated the Mets in five games to win their first title since 1985 last season.Kansas City was favored to repeat as division champions, but dealt with injuries to key players all season.We cant do anything about it now, Salvador Perez said. Were going to continue to play hard until the end, no matter what happens.Lonnie Chisenhalls RBI single put Cleveland ahead in the second. Run-scoring singles by Kendrys Morales and Perez gave Kansas City the lead in the third when the Royals strung together four straight two-out hits.Santana doubled to start the fifth and scored the tying run on Jason Kipnis double. Ramirezs double to center broke the tie.Klubers hot stretch has come at an opportune time for Clevelands rotation, which is without Carlos Carrasco (broken right hand) and Danny Salazar (strained right forearm).Hes so consistent that hes the same guy every five days, Indians manager Terry Francona said. I mean that as the biggest compliment you can give somebody.ROAD BACK?Salazar, who hasnt pitched in a game since Sept. 9, played catch at 75 feet Tuesday. He could be used in the bullpen if the Indians make the postseason.Im feeling better -- way better, he said. It feels good just to be able to throw a little bit. Im really positive about it.TRAINERS ROOMIndians: Carrasco has been fitted with a soft cast. He was struck by Ian Kinslers line drive Saturday.UP NEXTRoyals: LHP Jason Vargas returned from Tommy John surgery and pitched three innings Saturday against the White Sox -- his first appearance since July 21, 2015 -- allowing one run.Indians: RHP Mike Clevinger, who will be in the rotation down the stretch, starts the series finale. The rookie is 2-1 with a 3.52 ERA in seven games, including four starts, at Progressive Field. Discount Nationals Jerseys . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. Cheap Nationals Jerseys .C. United of Major League Soccer. United chose the defender in the second round of the 2013 MLS re-entry draft. http://www.cheapnationalsjerseyschina.com/ . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. Nationals Jerseys Outlet . It might not have mattered. While the Dodgers are preparing for the playoffs, the Padres showed their future has promise behind two rookies. Matt Adams Jersey . The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers should look to the Dallas Cowboys for an example of how to thrive while missing some star players.With Tony Romo, Dez Bryant and two starting offensive lineman sidelined by injuries, the Cowboys still managed to beat San Francisco 24-17 Sunday for their third straight win.Now the Niners (1-3) head into a short week following their third straight loss dealing with injuries to two key defensive players, most notably star linebacker NaVorro Bowman. Bowman was carted off the field with a lower left leg injury that appeared to be serious after he went down without contact in the third quarter.It is tough to see anyone go down, safety Eric Reid said. We will see what happens and the next guy has to step in and that is what we have to do. That next guy has some big shoes to fill.First-round defensive lineman DeForest Buckner also left with an injury and had a walking boot on his left foot after the game, leaving two potential holes in a defense with a Thursday night game upcoming against Arizona.The Cowboys (3-1) did just fine without their key players. Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 245 yards and two scores and fellow rookie Ezekiel Elliott had his second straight 100-yard game, rushing for 138 yards and a touchdown.Backup receiver Brice Butler caught one TD pass and Terrance Williams caught another as the Cowboys are thriving without some of their best players.There were a number of backups in the lineup on both sides of the ball, coach Jason Garrett said. Guys just stepping up prepared, accountable, come to work every day, do their job.Here are some other takeaways from the Cowboys win over the Niners:STAGNANT OFFENSE: After scoring TDs on their first two drives of the game, the 49ers offense stalled. San Francisco had one field goal the rest of the way as Blaine Gabbert struggled for any consistency. Gabbert missed an open Torrey Smith on a deep ball midway through the fourth quarter, turning a possible go-ahead touchdown into an interception , and then completed only a 3-yard pass on fourth-and-6 to end San Franciscos final drive in Dallas territory.ddddddddddddWe started fast like we wanted to all week, Gabbert said. Got the run game going. Got some passes in there. Jumped up to 14-0 and just stalled there a little bit.POISED ROOKIE: The early 14-point deficit didnt shake Prescott a bit. He remained calm and led the Cowboys back with another mistake-free performance. He went 23 for 32 and his 131 attempts without an interception are the most ever for a player in his first four games.He isnt going to blink, Butler said. No scenario is too big for him. We expect that from him and he expects that from himself.LONG TIME COMING: After being slowed by injuries for much of his career, Morris Claiborne is finally playing like the first-round pick he was for Dallas in 2012. He had his first interception since 2014 and also made the key tackle on Smith on the fourth-down play .It feels good to get an interception anytime in a game, Claiborne said. Its been a long time since I had one. It feels great to finally get one and to get one in a win.MOMENTUM TURN: Two plays in the second quarter ended up shifting the momentum in Dallas favor. Jaquiski Tartt was called for a personal foul after the Niners appeared to get a third-down stop with a sack of Prescott. Tartt hit Prescott after he was already wrapped up on the play, leading to the penalty. Three plays later, Dallas scored its first TD on Prescotts pass to Williams.Later in the quarter, Bradley Pinion shanked a punt for 26 yards, giving Dallas a short field. The Cowboys capitalized with the TD pass to Butler that tied the game.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '