KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Chris Perez finally allowed a run this season.

Regression to the mean? He insists he just messed up.

``Bad pitches,' Perez said. ``There's no such thing as law of averages.'

Perez had not blown a save since last August, converting 16 straight, before giving up two runs on three hits and a walk in the ninth in a 3-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals Thursday night.

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Perez gave up a two-run single to Melky Cabrera with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth. It was the first run he had allowed since Aug. 8, spanning 26 innings.

``How much longer can he be perfect?' Indians manager Manny Acta said. ``He's been perfect dating back to the second half of last year. Sooner or later something was going to get him and it happened today.'

Perez (0-1) said ``right now' his scoreless inning streak does not matter.

``Tomorrow I might look back at it,' Perez said. ``It's been a good run. It lasted all way to last year. I got out of the gates pretty fast this year. It was fun. It's bound to happen, the law of averages. Today they didn't hit it at somebody. They found the holes. Tomorrow I'll go out start a new streak like I did last year after I blew a save in August.'

``could have won three out of four here. It's still an all right series, but it could have been better. Josh (Tomlin) pitched great. He deserved to win.'

Rookie Aaron Crow (2-0) pitched one inning for the victory, which gave the Royals a 2-2 split of the four-game series between AL Central leaders.

Tomlin held the Royals to one run and five hits over 7 1-3 innings, but had to settle for a no-decision. He lowered his ERA from 2.75 to 2.33. Grady Sizemore had three hits and an RBI for the Indians.

The Royals are in Cleveland for three games next week.

Tony Sipp came out of the bullpen after Tomlin walked Getz leading off the eighth. He stole second and third, raising the Royals' league-leading total to 26 stolen bases. When Sipp walked Alex Gordon with two out and Vinnie Pestano relieved, Jeff Francoeur grounded an RBI single up the middle that shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera stopped from going through, possibly preventing the tying run from scoring.

The Indians scored both runs off Sean O'Sullivan (1-2) in the fifth as a light-to-moderate mist fell throughout most of the game. Matt LaPorta singled leading off and Jack Hannahan walked and both were sacrificed up a base before Sizemore lifted a bloop RBI single that dropped at Cabrera's shoes in shallow center.

After O'Sullivan walked Cabrera, loading the bases, Shin-Soo Choo hit a sinking liner to left field. Alex Gordon scooped the ball off the grass and jumped to his feet and threw out Sizemore at third as Hannahan scored the second run.

O'Sullivan went six-plus innings and was charged with two runs on five hits. He walked three and struck out six, tying his career high. He was relieved in the seventh by right-hander Louis Coleman, who made his major league debut after being called up from Triple-A Omaha.

NOTES: Neither team hit a home run in the four-game series. ... Kansas City has played 14 of its first 19 games at home. ... The Indians lead the AL with 99 runs scored. ... Cabrera made a strong throw home from center field to nail Carlos Santana at the plate in the eighth.