Loss could be finale for Tomlin

roster. Until this year, when a lot of things didn’t go right for him, Tomlin was the scrappy starter at the back end of the rotation that didn’t have great stuff, but more often than not gave the Indians a chance to win a game.

He’ll be a free agent this winter and the chances of him making the Tribe’s postseason roster are lukewarm at best. So if Thursday night was it, well, he made an impression on his coaches and teammates long before that.

“He’s the same guy every day,” said Mike Clevinger before Thursday night’s game. “Whether he gives up 20 or throws seven shutout (innings) or he’s moved to the bullpen or he’s not pitching at all. You’re getting the same guy, the same quirky attitude, the same pick-me-up, the same guy screaming at the top of his lungs in the dugout, no matter what he’s doing.”

Tomlin has been a favorite of manager Terry Francona’s since he became manager following the 2012 season. He echoed Clevinger’s critique.

“Your true colors come out when you’re not doing well,” said Francona. “It’s easy to be a good teammate when you’re going well, really easy ... He’s been the same whether he’s 9-1 or 1-9. He always looks out for everybody first. He lives it. He doesn’t just say it.”

Tomlin allowed one run on four hits in 4

innings. He struck out five and threw 70 percent of his pitches for strikes.

That included the home run that Adalberto Mondesi hit with two out in the third inning to tie the score 1-1.

The Royals won it in the 10th on a single by Salvador Perez with two outs that scored Mondesi from third. Neil Ramirez (0-3) started the 10th with two quick outs, but walked Mondesi and Alex Gordon before Perez burned him.