CLEVELAND -- Royals right-hander Jakob Junis continues to look like the dominant pitcher he was early this season.One start after tossing his first career complete game, Junis handled the American League Central-leading Indians in Monday's 5-1 win at Progressive Field. Junis tossed seven shutout innings, giving up just two singles.The

CLEVELAND -- Royals right-hander Jakob Junis continues to look like the dominant pitcher he was early this season.

One start after tossing his first career complete game, Junis handled the American League Central-leading Indians in Monday's 5-1 win at Progressive Field. Junis tossed seven shutout innings, giving up just two singles.

The Royals extended their season-high winning streak to six games. They have won eight of nine.

"It shows what we can do," said rookie first baseman Ryan O'Hearn , who homered twice. "We've got a lot of young guys and some veterans; it's a good mix right now."

Junis has a 1.89 ERA over his last six starts.

"That was my goal since the All-Star break, to come out strong, finish strong," Junis said. "I went through that rough stretch in the middle of the season, and I want to put that behind me."

Junis, who has been leaning on his fastball more recently, walked none and struck out six. Junis' out pitch normally is his slider, but four of those strikeouts came on his fastball. In his last outing, five of his seven strikeouts were via the heater.

"We talked about establishing the fastball and pitching off it, especially when you have a swing-and-miss slider like Jake has," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "He did a great job."

Added Junis: "That's just part of the game plan we've had the last couple games. Playing teams in the division, they see my slider a lot, so we thought we'd mix it up. It has paid off."

O'Hearn continued his impressive start to his career. O'Hearn belted a home run off Adam Plutko to lead off the fourth, making it, 2-0, Royals. O'Hearn topped that with a two-run shot off Plutko in the sixth, a no-doubter to right field on a 1-0 changeup. He also doubled.

O'Hearn became the first Royal to have at least nine home runs and 22 RBIs in his first 24 games.

Royals right fielder Jorge Bonifacio also homered -- his second this season -- on a 1-2 four-seamer from Plutko. Third baseman Hunter Dozier gave the Royals a 5-0 lead with his ninth home run in the eighth.

"The young guys are really stepping up and providing some offense," Yost said.

MOMENT THAT MATTERED

The Royals had a little trouble closing this one out. Closer Wily Peralta surrendered a home run to Francisco Lindor in the ninth and then loaded the bases by giving up a single with two walks. But lefty Tim Hill came on and got pinch-hitter Yandy Diaz to hit into a game-ending 4-6-3 double play for his second career save.

SOUND SMART

The surging Royals have scored five runs or more in nine straight games for the first time since 2016. The club record is 11 straight, set in 1979.

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS

The Royals defended the Tribe's delayed double-steal attempt perfectly in the third inning. With runners at the corners and two outs, Lindor drifted off first base and stopped between first and second, purposely getting in a rundown as speedy Greg Allen hovered off third base. Shortstop Raul Mondesi and first baseman O'Hearn took turns running down Lindor, all the while keeping an eye on Allen. With Allen then starting to break for home, second baseman Whit Merrifield took a throw from O'Hearn and threw a strike to catcher Cam Gallagher, who tagged out Allen.

CALLUPS COMING

The Royals are expected to make a few more September callups on Tuesday, Yost said. They would include pitchers Eric Skoglund , Glenn Sparkman and recently acquired Jerry Vasto .

UP NEXT

Left-hander Danny Duffy (8-11, 4.72 ERA) takes the mound for the Royals in game two of the series in Cleveland at 6:10 p.m. CT on Tuesday. Right-hander Mike Clevinger (10-7, 3.17 ERA) will pitch for the Indians. Duffy, who will be making his 28th start this season, dominated the Tigers last Wednesday, giving up just two hits and one run over six innings. He retired 16 of the final 19 hitters he faced.