Melky Cabrera's two-run single with the bases loaded in the ninth inning lifted the Kansas City Royals to a 3-2 home win over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night.

Kila Ka'aihue led off the ninth with a double off Chris Perez (0-1). Pinch-runner Mike Aviles took third on pinch-hitter Mitch Maier's single. Alcides Escobar's ground ball forced Aviles at home.

Perez, who converted his first seven save opportunities, walked Chris Getz to load the bases. Cabrera lined an 0-2 pitch to left field for the game-winning hit.

The win gave the Royals a split of the four-game series between the top two teams in the American League Central. Cleveland (13-6) leads Kansas City (12-7) by one game.

Aaron Crow (2-0) pitched the ninth for the win.

The Indians broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the fifth on Grady Sizemore's RBI single and a run-scoring fielder's choice by Shin-Soo Choo.

Cleveland starter Josh Tomlin held Kansas City to one run in 7 1/3 innings. Jeff Francoeur's infield hit with the bases loaded cut the lead to 2-1 in the eighth.

Alex Gordon extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a sixth-inning double.

Kansas City starter Sean O'Sullivan allowed two runs in six innings.