As the Royals pushed across runs late, the prospect of Jason Vargas finishing the game increased.
Two insurance runs in the eighth inning clinched it. Vargas headed out for the ninth to a loud ovation from the Kauffman Stadium crowd, and he awarded them by completing the task.
Vargas and the Royals prevailed over the Indians 4-0 on Friday, with Vargas turning in the team’s first complete game this season and his first shutout since 2014.
“I don’t know if I felt stronger as the game went on,” Vargas said. “I felt pretty good from the start of the game.