GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: KANSAS CITY (63-82) at CLEVELAND (85-61)

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Gathright in left field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 4
CLEVELAND 4 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: C Blake (.266, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J LaRue catching.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 4
CLEVELAND 4 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: C Blake (.266, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY CASEY BLAKE (16) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN THE
9TH OFF DAVID RISKE.

FINAL SCORE: CLEVELAND 5, KANSAS CITY 4</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 4 9 1
CLEVELAND 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 5 6 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER, JOEL PERALTA (7TH), JOHN BALE (7TH), DAVID
RISKE (8TH) AND JOHN BUCK, JASON LARUE (9TH)

CLE - C.C. SABATHIA, RAFAEL BETANCOURT (8TH), JOE
BOROWSKI (9TH) AND VICTOR MARTINEZ

HOME RUNS: KAN - NONE

CLE - FRANKLIN GUTIERREZ (12) OFF JOEL PERALTA IN THE 7TH, 1 ON
VICTOR MARTINEZ (22) OFF DAVID RISKE IN THE 8TH, 0 ON
CASEY BLAKE (16) OFF DAVID RISKE IN THE 9TH, 0 ON</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 4 9 1
CLEVELAND 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 5 6 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER, JOEL PERALTA (7TH), JOHN BALE (7TH), DAVID
RISKE (8TH) AND JOHN BUCK, JASON LARUE (9TH)

CLE - C.C. SABATHIA, RAFAEL BETANCOURT (8TH), JOE
BOROWSKI (9TH) AND VICTOR MARTINEZ


WP - JOE BOROWSKI (4-5)
LP - DAVID RISKE (1-4)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: KAN - NONE

CLE - FRANKLIN GUTIERREZ (12) OFF JOEL PERALTA IN THE 7TH, 1 ON
VICTOR MARTINEZ (22) OFF DAVID RISKE IN THE 8TH, 0 ON
CASEY BLAKE (16) OFF DAVID RISKE IN THE 9TH, 0 ON


TIME: 3:03 ATT: 35,230

PROBABLES: KAN - ZACK GREINKE (6-5, 3.99)
CLE - FAUSTO CARMONA (16-8, 3.20)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (4) VS CLEVELAND (5) - FINAL

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E German 3b 4 0 1 0 0 2 3 .266
A Gordon 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .258
D DeJesus cf 4 1 1 1 0 3 2 .268
M Grudzielanek 2b 3 1 1 2 1 0 0 .300
M Sweeney dh 3 0 1 1 0 1 1 .264
a-S Costa ph-dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .232
B Butler 1b 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .295
R Gload 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
M Teahen rf 3 0 0 0 1 3 1 .287
E Brown lf 3 1 1 0 0 2 0 .251
b-J Gathright ph-lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .318
J Buck c 2 0 0 0 1 2 1 .232
c-J Smith ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .195
J LaRue c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .146
T Pena Jr ss 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 .259

Totals 33 4 9 4 3 13 13

a-singled to left for M Sweeney in the 8th; b-bunt popped out to third for E
Brown in the 9th; c-flied out to right for J Buck in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - M Sweeney (15, C Sabathia). S - T Pena Jr. RBI - D DeJesus (58),
M Grudzielanek 2 (48), M Sweeney (36). 2-out RBI - D DeJesus, M Grudzielanek 2,
M Sweeney. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D DeJesus 1, A Gordon 1, B
Butler 1. Team LOB - 6.

BASERUNNING: CS - E German (6, 2nd base by C Sabathia/V Martinez), S Costa
(1, 2nd base by R Betancourt/V Martinez).

FIELDING: E - A Gordon (12, ground ball).


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 1 0 0 3 0 0 .277
A Cabrera 2b 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 .300
T Hafner dh 4 0 1 1 0 2 2 .256
V Martinez c 3 1 1 1 1 0 1 .307
R Garko 1b 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .295
J Peralta ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .266
K Lofton lf 4 1 1 0 0 0 2 .297
F Gutierrez rf 4 1 1 2 0 2 1 .273
C Blake 3b 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 .267

Totals 31 5 6 5 5 4 12

BATTING: HR - F Gutierrez (12, 7th inning off J Peralta 1 on, 1 Out), V
Martinez (22, 8th inning off D Riske 0 on, 0 Out), C Blake (16, 9th inning off
D Riske 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - T Hafner (91), F Gutierrez 2 (31), V Martinez
(103), C Blake (68). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Hafner 1, J
Peralta 1. Team LOB - 7.

BASERUNNING: SB - G Sizemore (33, 2nd base off B Bannister/J Buck).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (V Martinez-J Peralta).


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 000 040 000 -- 4
CLEVELAND - 100 000 211 -- 5

No outs when winning run scored.
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bannister 6 2 1 1 3 2 0 3.39
J Peralta (H, 4) 2/3 2 2 2 0 0 1 3.95
J Bale (H, 1) 1/3 0 0 0 2 1 0 4.15
D Riske (L, 1-4; B, 4) 1 2 2 2 0 1 2 2.42

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sabathia 7 7 4 4 2 13 0 3.21
R Betancourt 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.54
J Borowski (W, 4-5) 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 5.31

D Riske pitched to 1 batter in the 9th.

Pitches-strikes: B Bannister 107-67; J Peralta 19-12; J Bale 17-7; D Riske
15-11; C Sabathia 116-71; R Betancourt 11-6; J Borowski 18-11. Ground balls-fly
balls: B Bannister 8-8; J Peralta 0-2; J Bale 0-0; D Riske 0-2; C Sabathia 5-2;
R Betancourt 1-1; J Borowski 0-3. Batters faced: B Bannister 23; J Peralta 4; J
Bale 3; D Riske 6; C Sabathia 29; R Betancourt 3; J Borowski 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Rapuano. 1B--Ed Hickox. 2B--C.B. Bucknor. 3B--Joe West.

T--3:03. Att--35,230.
Weather: 65 degrees, overcast. Wind: 16 mph, left to
right.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
KANSAS CITY 4
CLEVELAND 5 FINAL</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KANSAS CITY (4) AT CLEVELAND (5) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CLEVELAND 1ST: G Sizemore walked. A Cabrera lined out to left. G Sizemore
stole second. T Hafner singled to center, G Sizemore scored. V Martinez flied
out to left. R Garko singled to right, T Hafner to third. J Peralta grounded
into fielder's choice to third, R Garko out at second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 0, CLEVELAND 1.

KANSAS CITY 5TH: E Brown singled to left. J Buck struck out looking.
T Pena Jr singled to right, E Brown to third. E German struck out swinging.
D DeJesus singled to left, E Brown scored, T Pena Jr to second. M Grudzielanek
singled to center, T Pena Jr and D DeJesus scored. M Sweeney doubled to deep
center, M Grudzielanek scored. B Butler grounded out to shortstop. (4 Runs,
5 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 4, CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 7TH: A Gordon at third base. R Gload at first base. J Peralta
relieved B Bannister. J Peralta lined out to center. K Lofton singled to
right. F Gutierrez homered to left, K Lofton scored. C Blake lined out to
second. J Bale relieved J Peralta. G Sizemore walked. A Cabrera walked,
G Sizemore to second. T Hafner struck out looking. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 4, CLEVELAND 3.

CLEVELAND 8TH: D Riske relieved J Bale. V Martinez homered to right.
R Garko flied out to right. J Peralta safe at first on error by third baseman
A Gordon. K Lofton flied out to center. F Gutierrez struck out swinging.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error) KANSAS CITY 4, CLEVELAND 4.

CLEVELAND 9TH: J Gathright in left field. J LaRue catching. C Blake homered
to left. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 4, CLEVELAND 5.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KANSAS CITY (4) AT CLEVELAND (5) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kansas City Starting Lineups -- E German 3B, D DeJesus CF, M Grudzielanek 2B,
M Sweeney DH, B Butler 1B, M Teahen RF, E Brown LF, J Buck C, T Pena Jr SS,
B Bannister RHP.

Cleveland Starting Lineups -- G Sizemore CF, A Cabrera 2B, T Hafner DH,
V Martinez C, R Garko 1B, J Peralta SS, K Lofton LF, F Gutierrez RF, C Blake 3B,
C Sabathia LHP.

Umpires -- Ed Rapuano (HP), Ed Hickox (1B), C.B. Bucknor (2B), Joe West (3B).


Gametime Weather: 65 degrees, Overcast, wind left to right at 16 mph.


KANSAS CITY 1ST: E German grounded out to second. D DeJesus struck out
looking. M Grudzielanek walked. M Sweeney popped out to second. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0, CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 1ST: G Sizemore walked. A Cabrera lined out to left. G Sizemore
stole second. T Hafner singled to center, G Sizemore scored. V Martinez flied
out to left. R Garko singled to right, T Hafner to third. J Peralta grounded
into fielder's choice to third, R Garko out at second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 0, CLEVELAND 1.

KANSAS CITY 2ND: B Butler grounded out to second. M Teahen struck out
swinging. E Brown struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0,
CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 2ND: K Lofton grounded out to first. F Gutierrez struck out
swinging. C Blake flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0,
CLEVELAND 1.

KANSAS CITY 3RD: J Buck walked. T Pena Jr sacrificed to first, J Buck to
second. E German struck out looking. D DeJesus struck out swinging. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0, CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 3RD: G Sizemore grounded out to first. A Cabrera grounded out to
second. T Hafner grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 0, CLEVELAND 1.

KANSAS CITY 4TH: M Grudzielanek grounded out to pitcher. M Sweeney struck
out swinging. B Butler singled to center. M Teahen struck out looking.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0, CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 4TH: V Martinez walked. R Garko popped out to second. J Peralta
flied out to left. K Lofton flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 0, CLEVELAND 1.

KANSAS CITY 5TH: E Brown singled to left. J Buck struck out looking.
T Pena Jr singled to right, E Brown to third. E German struck out swinging.
D DeJesus singled to left, E Brown scored, T Pena Jr to second. M Grudzielanek
singled to center, T Pena Jr and D DeJesus scored. M Sweeney doubled to deep
center, M Grudzielanek scored. B Butler grounded out to shortstop. (4 Runs,
5 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 4, CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 5TH: F Gutierrez grounded out to shortstop. C Blake flied out to
center. G Sizemore walked. A Cabrera grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 4, CLEVELAND 1.

KANSAS CITY 6TH: M Teahen struck out swinging. E Brown struck out
swinging. J Buck struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 4,
CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 6TH: T Hafner struck out swinging. V Martinez grounded out to
shortstop. R Garko lined out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 4, CLEVELAND 1.

KANSAS CITY 7TH: T Pena Jr lined out to shortstop. E German singled to
center. D DeJesus struck out swinging. E German caught stealing second,
catcher to shortstop.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 4, CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 7TH: A Gordon at third base. R Gload at first base. J Peralta
relieved B Bannister. J Peralta lined out to center. K Lofton singled to
right. F Gutierrez homered to left, K Lofton scored. C Blake lined out to
second. J Bale relieved J Peralta. G Sizemore walked. A Cabrera walked,
G Sizemore to second. T Hafner struck out looking. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 4, CLEVELAND 3.

KANSAS CITY 8TH: R Betancourt relieved C Sabathia. M Grudzielanek grounded
out to pitcher. S Costa hit for M Sweeney. S Costa singled to left. S Costa
caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. R Gload flied out to left.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 4, CLEVELAND 3.

CLEVELAND 8TH: D Riske relieved J Bale. V Martinez homered to right.
R Garko flied out to right. J Peralta safe at first on error by third baseman
A Gordon. K Lofton flied out to center. F Gutierrez struck out swinging.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error) KANSAS CITY 4, CLEVELAND 4.

KANSAS CITY 9TH: J Borowski relieved R Betancourt. M Teahen walked.
J Gathright hit for E Brown. J Gathright bunt popped out to third. J Smith hit
for J Buck. J Smith flied out to right. T Pena Jr reached on infield single to
second, M Teahen to second. A Gordon flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 4, CLEVELAND 4.

CLEVELAND 9TH: J Gathright in left field. J LaRue catching. C Blake homered
to left. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 4, CLEVELAND 5.</div>

 

Blake's blast buoys Indians past Royals

<h3>CLEVELAND 5, KANSAS CITY 4</h3>CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Casey Blake homered in the bottom of theninth inning to help the Cleveland Indians rally for a 5-4victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday.


Facing former Indian David Riske, Blake led off the ninth withhis 16th homer of the season to left field gave the Indianstheir 12th victory in their last at-bat this season.

It was the first home run in 37 games for Blake, who lasthomered on August 1 against the Texas Rangers.


Trailing 4-3, Victor Martinez led off the eighth with a home runoff of Riske (1-4) to tie the game. Martinez lofted a fly ballto right field that barely cleared the wall and theoutstretched glove of Mark Teahen.


Indians reliever Joe Borowski (4-5) earned the victory afterallowing one hit in one inning.


Martinez's home run took C.C. Sabathia off the hook as the burlylefthander's Cy Young chances suffered a setback despite acareer-high 13 strikeouts over seven innings.


Sabathia entered Friday night's start having won his last threestarts, but ran into his personal nemesis this season. In fourstarts against the Royals this season, Sabathia is 1-2 with an3.48 ERA.


Sabathia was in control early, holding the Royals hitless intothe fourth, but Kansas City touched him up for four runs in thefifth - all with two outs - to take a 4-1 lead.


Emil Brown led off the inning with a single and went to third onTony Pena Jr.'s one-out single. Sabathia struck out EstebanGerman, but couldn't get out of the jam as David DeJesus laced asingle to left to tie the game at 1-1.


Mark Grudzielanek followed with a two-run single intoleft-center to give the Royals a 3-1 lead. German scored allthe way from first, as he took advantage of shortstop JhonnyPeralta not paying attention. Mike Sweeney capped the scoringwith an RBI double into center.


The four runs allowed by Sabathia snapped his streak of allowingtwo earned runs or less at 10 starts. It was the secondlongest streak in the majors this season behind Oakland's DanHaren.


Sabathia rebounded to strike out the side in the sixth and endedhis night by striking out DeJesus in the seventh on the frontend of a strike-him-out, throw-him out double play in theseventh.


Meanwhile, Bannister strengthened his case for AL Rookie of theYear. The righthander bounced back from his worst start of theseason to shutdown the Indians for the second time this season.

Bannister (12-8), who allowed seven runs in his last startagainst the New York Yankees, trails only Boston's DaisukeMatsuzaka in wins by rookie pitchers. After giving up twosingles in the first inning, Bannister held the Indians hitlessthe rest of the way as the righthander gave up one run in sixinnings.


Bannister left with a 4-1 lead, but Franklin Gutierrez hit atwo-run homer in the seventh to cut into the Kansas City lead.

 

Blake's blast buoys Indians past Royals

<h3>CLEVELAND 5, KANSAS CITY 4</h3>CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Casey Blake picked the right time to endhis homerless drought.


Blake homered in the bottom of the ninth inning to help theCleveland Indians rally for a 5-4 victory over the Kansas CityRoyals on Friday.


The win allowed Cleveland to maintain its 5 1/2 game lead overDetroit in the AL Central and reduced its magic number to 10.

Facing former Indian David Riske, Blake led off the ninth withhis 16th homer of the season to left field gave the Indianstheir 12th victory in their last at-bat this season.

"(Riske) throws a lot of fastballs," Blake said. "In thatsituation, I was just trying to get something good to hit and beaggressive. I was just fortunate I got a good one to hit." Itwas the first home run in 37 games for Blake, who last homeredon August 1 against the Texas Rangers.


"I've been working on some things," deadpanned Blake, when askedabout the homerless drought. It's been a rough second half ofthe season for Blake, who has only two home runs since theAll-Star break.


"It's one of those things I can't explain," Blake said. "Themore I think about, the more they don't come. It seems, in mycareer, they come in spurts. Hopefully, this is a start ofone."


After being shutdown by rookie Brian Bannister, the Indiansoffense came to life against the Royals bullpen.


Trailing 4-1, Franklin Gutierrez blasted a two-run homer in theseventh off of Joel Peralta to bring the Indians within one.

Victor Martinez then led off the eighth with a home run off ofRiske (1-4) to tie the game. Martinez lofted a fly ball toright field that barely cleared the wall and the outstretchedglove of Mark Teahen.


"I had no idea it was out until I heard everybody roar," Indiansmanager Eric Wedge said. "(Martinez) has stepped up time andtime again this season."


"It was two pitches," Riske said. "One wasn't hit very good.The other one was hit really good."


Indians reliever Joe Borowski (4-5) earned the victory afterallowing one hit in one inning.


Martinez's home run took C.C. Sabathia off the hook as the burlylefthander's Cy Young chances suffered a setback despite acareer-high 13 strikeouts over seven innings.


"We are in a pennant race," Sabathia said. "I'm just worriedabout trying to get that title for the Central division. All Icare about is pitching in the postseason."


Sabathia entered Friday night's start having won his last threestarts, but ran into his personal nemesis this season. In fourstarts against the Royals this season, Sabathia is 1-2 with an3.48 ERA.


Sabathia was in control early, holding the Royals hitless intothe fourth, but Kansas City touched him up for four runs in thefifth - all with two outs - to take a 4-1 lead.


Emil Brown led off the inning with a single and went to third onTony Pena Jr.'s one-out single. Sabathia struck out EstebanGerman, but couldn't get out of the jam as David DeJesus laced asingle to left to tie the game at 1-1.


Mark Grudzielanek followed with a two-run single intoleft-center to give the Royals a 3-1 lead. German scored allthe way from first, as he took advantage of shortstop JhonnyPeralta not paying attention. Mike Sweeney capped the scoringwith an RBI double into center.


The four runs allowed by Sabathia snapped his streak of allowingtwo earned runs or less at 10 starts. It was the secondlongest streak in the majors this season behind Oakland's DanHaren, who has 12.


"You have to give (Kansas City) credit," Sabathia said. "Theydid a good job of staying on balls and hitting balls hard."

Sabathia rebounded to strike out the side in the sixth and endedhis night by striking out DeJesus in the seventh on the frontend of a strike-him-out, throw-him out double play in theseventh.


"The guys really picked me up today," Sabathia said. "I felt itin the dugout that we would win this game. It felt like wewould comeback and put something together."


Meanwhile, Bannister strengthened his case for AL Rookie of theYear. The righthander bounced back from his worst start of theseason to shutdown the Indians for the second time this season.

Bannister (12-8), who allowed seven runs in his last startagainst the New York Yankees, trails only Boston's DaisukeMatsuzaka in wins by rookie pitchers. After giving up twosingles in the first inning, Bannister held the Indians hitlessthe rest of the way as the righthander gave up one run in sixinnings.


"I thought I wasted some pitches," Bannister said. "By notgetting to the seventh, I put too much pressure on the bullpen.I felt like I let the guys down."


It was the eighth loss in nine games for the Royals, who are 5-8against the AL Central division leaders.


"It seems like every game we play here is like this," Royalsmanager Buddy Bell said. "We're a pitch away or a hit away froma win. This is a tough loss."

 

Blake's blast buoys Indians past Royals

<h3>CLEVELAND 5, KANSAS CITY 4</h3>CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Casey Blake picked the right time to endhis homerless drought.


Blake homered in the bottom of the ninth inning to help theCleveland Indians rally for a 5-4 victory over the Kansas CityRoyals on Friday.


The win allowed Cleveland to maintain its 5 1/2 game lead overDetroit in the AL Central and reduced its magic number to 10.

"We are in a pennant race," Cleveland starter and Cy Youngcandidate C.C. Sabathia said. "I'm just worried about trying toget that title for the Central Division. All I care about ispitching in the postseason."


Facing former Indian David Riske, Blake led off the ninth withhis 16th homer of the season to left field gave the Indianstheir 12th victory in their last at-bat this season.

"(Riske) throws a lot of fastballs," Blake said. "In thatsituation, I was just trying to get something good to hit and beaggressive. I was just fortunate I got a good one to hit."

It was the first home run in 37 games for Blake, who lasthomered on August 1 against the Texas Rangers.


"I've been working on some things," deadpanned Blake, when askedabout the homerless drought. "It's been a rough second half ofthe season for Blake, who has only two home runs since theAll-Star break.


"It's one of those things I can't explain," Blake said. "Themore I think about, the more they don't come. It seems, in mycareer, they come in spurts. Hopefully, this is a start ofone."


After being shutdown by rookie Brian Bannister, the Indiansoffense came to life against the Royals bullpen.


Trailing 4-1, Franklin Gutierrez blasted a two-run homer in theseventh off of Joel Peralta to bring the Indians within one.

Victor Martinez then led off the eighth with a home run off ofRiske (1-4) to tie the game. Martinez lofted a fly ball toright field that barely cleared the wall and the outstretchedglove of Mark Teahen.


"I had no idea it was out until I heard everybody roar," Indiansmanager Eric Wedge said. "(Martinez) has stepped up time andtime again this season."


"It was two pitches," Riske said. "One wasn't hit very good.The other one was hit really good."


Indians reliever Joe Borowski (4-5) earned the victory afterallowing one hit in one inning.


Martinez's home run took C.C. Sabathia off the hook as the burlylefthander's Cy Young chances suffered a setback despite acareer-high 13 strikeouts over seven innings.


Sabathia entered Friday night's start having won his last threestarts, but ran into his personal nemesis this season. In fourstarts against the Royals this season, Sabathia is 1-2 with an3.48 ERA.


Sabathia was in control early, holding the Royals hitless intothe fourth, but Kansas City touched him up for four runs in thefifth - all with two outs - to take a 4-1 lead.


Emil Brown led off the inning with a single and went to third onTony Pena Jr.'s one-out single. Sabathia struck out EstebanGerman, but couldn't get out of the jam as David DeJesus laced asingle to left to tie the game at 1-1.


Mark Grudzielanek followed with a two-run single intoleft-center to give the Royals a 3-1 lead. German scored allthe way from first, as he took advantage of shortstop JhonnyPeralta not paying attention. Mike Sweeney capped the scoringwith an RBI double into center.


The four runs allowed by Sabathia snapped his streak of allowingtwo earned runs or less at 10 starts. It was the secondlongest streak in the majors this season behind Oakland's DanHaren, who has 12.


"You have to give (Kansas City) credit," Sabathia said. "Theydid a good job of staying on balls and hitting balls hard."

Sabathia rebounded to strike out the side in the sixth and endedhis night by striking out DeJesus in the seventh on the frontend of a strike-him-out, throw-him out double play in theseventh.


"The guys really picked me up today," Sabathia said. "I felt itin the dugout that we would win this game. It felt like wewould comeback and put something together."


Meanwhile, Bannister strengthened his case for AL Rookie of theYear. The righthander bounced back from his worst start of theseason to shutdown the Indians for the second time this season.

Bannister (12-8), who allowed seven runs in his last startagainst the New York Yankees, trails only Boston's DaisukeMatsuzaka in wins by rookie pitchers. After giving up twosingles in the first inning, Bannister held the Indians hitlessthe rest of the way as the righthander gave up one run in sixinnings.


"I thought I wasted some pitches," Bannister said. "By notgetting to the seventh, I put too much pressure on the bullpen.I felt like I let the guys down."


It was the eighth loss in nine games for the Royals, who are 5-8against the AL Central division leaders.


"It seems like every game we play here is like this," Royalsmanager Buddy Bell said. "We're a pitch away or a hit away froma win. This is a tough loss."