GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: KANSAS CITY (38-51) at CLEVELAND (53-36)

AL: KANSAS CITY (38-51) at CLEVELAND (53-36)

<h3>Sabathia, Indians look to keep rolling at home, face Royals</h3>



Kansas City (38-51) at Cleveland (53-36), 7:05 pm EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) - C.C. Sabathia looks to rebound from hisworst start of the season.


Sabathia and the Cleveland Indians aim for their 11th homeseries win of the season when they face the Kansas City Royalson Saturday.


Cleveland edged Kansas City, 5-4, on Friday when Ryan Garko hita game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth for theIndians' sixth straight home victory. Cleveland, which own themajors' best home record at 32-12, hands the ball to Sabathia tocontinue the streak.


Sabathia (12-3, 3.58 ERA) goes after a majors-leading 13th winand also wants to improve on his 12-6 record vs. the Royals.

However the burly lefthander was tagged for a season-high sevenruns along with 10 hits in four innings in a 12-3 pounding atDetroit on July 5.


"It was a butt-kicking," Sabathia said after the game. "I'vegot to deal with it and be ready to pitch the next time."

The All-Star has been much better at home, going 9-1 in 12starts for the Indians, who have won 11 of those games.

The Royals respond with Gil Meche (5-6, 3.54), who will also belooking to rebound from a rough outing. The 28-year-oldrighthander was tagged for six runs and five hits - includingtwo homers - in six innings, but did not receive a decision inan 8-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays last Saturday.

Meche is even worse against Cleveland, going 1-6 with a 5.69 ERAin nine starts vs. the Indians. He has not beaten them since2003.


Kansas City has lost 14 of its last 17 here vs. Cleveland.

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY AT CLEVELAND -- LINEUPS

KANSAS CITY CLEVELAND
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
David Dejesus CF .282 5 33 Grady Sizemore CF .280 15 46
Mark Grudzielanek 2B .283 4 28 Casey Blake 3B .275 14 48
Mark Teahen RF .281 5 43 Victor Martinez C .322 16 70
Billy Butler DH .299 3 14 Travis Hafner DH .262 14 57
Emil Brown LF .227 3 35 Jhonny Peralta SS .280 14 50
Esteban German 3B .281 2 27 Ryan Garko 1B .297 9 31
Alex Gordon 1B .233 6 29 Trot Nixon RF .238 3 26
John Buck C .245 15 29 Ben Francisco LF .357 3 5
Tony Pena Jr SS .278 1 28 Josh Barfield 2B .257 2 39

Gil Meche RHP (5-6, 3.54) C.C. Sabathia LHP (12-3, 3.58)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND
WARMUPS: KAN - GIL MECHE (5-6, 3.54)
CLE - C.C. SABATHIA (12-3, 3.58)

UMPIRES: HP - MARK CARLSON
1B - LARRY YOUNG
2B - CHAD FAIRCHILD
3B - TED BARRETT

WEATHER: 87 Degrees, overcast
WIND: 18 mph, out to right</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND
STARTING BATS: KAN - GIL MECHE AND JOHN BUCK
CLE - C.C. SABATHIA AND VICTOR MARTINEZ

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: D DEJESUS (.282, 5 HR, 33 RBI)
M GRUDZIELA (.283, 4 HR, 28 RBI)
M TEAHEN (.281, 5 HR, 43 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY BILLY BUTLER SCORED MARK GRUDZIELANEK AND MARK
TEAHEN.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, B BUTLER ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 2
CLEVELAND 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: E BROWN (.227, 3 HR, 35 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - GIL MECHE
CLE - C.C. SABATHIA

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.280, 15 HR, 46 RBI)
C BLAKE (.275, 14 HR, 48 RBI)
V MARTINEZ (.322, 16 HR, 70 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (2) VS CLEVELAND (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .281
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .286
M Teahen rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .284
B Butler dh 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .307
E Brown lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .226
E German 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .279
A Gordon 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278

Totals 6 2 3 2 0 1 2

BATTING: 2B - B Butler (6, C Sabathia). RBI - B Butler 2 (16). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - E German 1. Team LOB - 1.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
V Martinez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
B Francisco lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .357
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 2 -- 2
CLEVELAND - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.54

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sabathia 1 3 2 2 0 1 0 3.68

Pitches-strikes: C Sabathia 20-13. Ground balls-fly balls: C Sabathia 1-1.
Batters faced: C Sabathia 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Mark Carlson. 1B--Larry Young. 2B--Chad Fairchild. 3B--Ted
Barrett.

Weather: 83 degrees, overcast. Wind: 18 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND
CONFIRMED STARTERS: KAN - GIL MECHE
CLE - C.C. SABATHIA</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - GIL MECHE
CLE - C.C. SABATHIA

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: A GORDON (.233, 6 HR, 29 RBI)
J BUCK (.245, 15 HR, 29 RBI)
T PENA JR (.278, 1 HR, 28 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (2) VS CLEVELAND (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .281
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .286
M Teahen rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .284
B Butler dh 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .307
E Brown lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .226
E German 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .279
A Gordon 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278

Totals 6 2 3 2 0 1 2

BATTING: 2B - B Butler (6, C Sabathia). RBI - B Butler 2 (16). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - E German 1. Team LOB - 1.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .274
V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .321
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
B Francisco lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .357
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 2 -- 2
CLEVELAND - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.51

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sabathia 1 3 2 2 0 1 0 3.68

Pitches-strikes: G Meche 17-11; C Sabathia 20-13. Ground balls-fly balls: G
Meche 1-0; C Sabathia 1-1. Batters faced: G Meche 3; C Sabathia 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Mark Carlson. 1B--Larry Young. 2B--Chad Fairchild. 3B--Ted
Barrett.

Weather: 83 degrees, overcast. Wind: 18 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - GIL MECHE
CLE - C.C. SABATHIA

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: T HAFNER (.262, 14 HR, 57 RBI)
J PERALTA (.280, 14 HR, 50 RBI)
R GARKO (.297, 9 HR, 31 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (2) VS CLEVELAND (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .281
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .286
M Teahen rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .284
B Butler dh 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .307
E Brown lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .226
E German 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .279
A Gordon 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .245
T Pena Jr ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277

Totals 9 2 3 2 1 1 3

BATTING: 2B - B Butler (6, C Sabathia). RBI - B Butler 2 (16). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - E German 1, D DeJesus 1. Team LOB - 2.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .274
V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .321
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
B Francisco lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .357
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 20 -- 2
CLEVELAND - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.51

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sabathia 2 3 2 2 1 1 0 3.66

Pitches-strikes: G Meche 17-11; C Sabathia 30-19. Ground balls-fly balls: G
Meche 1-0; C Sabathia 2-3. Batters faced: G Meche 3; C Sabathia 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Mark Carlson. 1B--Larry Young. 2B--Chad Fairchild. 3B--Ted
Barrett.

Weather: 83 degrees, overcast. Wind: 18 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - GIL MECHE
CLE - C.C. SABATHIA

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: M GRUDZIELANEK (.286, 1-FOR-1)
M TEAHEN (.284, 1-FOR-1)
B BUTLER (.307, 1-FOR-1, 2 RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (2) VS CLEVELAND (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .281
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .286
M Teahen rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .284
B Butler dh 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .307
E Brown lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .226
E German 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .279
A Gordon 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .245
T Pena Jr ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277

Totals 9 2 3 2 1 1 3

BATTING: 2B - B Butler (6, C Sabathia). RBI - B Butler 2 (16). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - E German 1, D DeJesus 1. Team LOB - 2.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .274
V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .321
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
J Peralta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .282
R Garko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .296
T Nixon rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .237
B Francisco lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .357
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 2 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 20 -- 2
CLEVELAND - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.48

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sabathia 2 3 2 2 1 1 0 3.66

Pitches-strikes: G Meche 33-22; C Sabathia 30-19. Ground balls-fly balls: G
Meche 1-3; C Sabathia 2-3. Batters faced: G Meche 7; C Sabathia 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Mark Carlson. 1B--Larry Young. 2B--Chad Fairchild. 3B--Ted
Barrett.

Weather: 83 degrees, overcast. Wind: 18 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY EMIL BROWN (4) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 3RD OFF C.C. SABATHIA SCORED MARK TEAHEN AND BILLY BUTLER.
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 5, CLEVELAND 0

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: E GERMAN (.279, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - GIL MECHE
CLE - C.C. SABATHIA

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: B FRANCISCO (.357, 3 HR, 5 RBI)
J BARFIELD (.257, 2 HR, 39 RBI)
G SIZEMORE (.279, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (5) VS CLEVELAND (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .281
M Grudzielanek 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .285
M Teahen rf 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 .286
B Butler dh 2 1 2 2 0 0 0 .315
E Brown lf 2 1 1 3 0 0 1 .230
E German 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .278
A Gordon 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .245
T Pena Jr ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277

Totals 15 5 6 5 1 1 3

BATTING: 2B - B Butler (6, C Sabathia); M Teahen (15, C Sabathia). HR - E Brown
(4, 3rd inning off C Sabathia 2 on, 1 Out). RBI - B Butler 2 (16), E Brown 3
(38). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E German 1, D DeJesus 1. Team
LOB - 2.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .274
V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .321
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
J Peralta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .282
R Garko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .296
T Nixon rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .237
B Francisco lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .357
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 2 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 203 -- 5
CLEVELAND - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.48

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sabathia 3 6 5 5 1 1 1 3.83

Pitches-strikes: G Meche 33-22; C Sabathia 43-30. Ground balls-fly balls: G
Meche 1-3; C Sabathia 3-5. Batters faced: G Meche 7; C Sabathia 16.

UMPIRES: HP--Mark Carlson. 1B--Larry Young. 2B--Chad Fairchild. 3B--Ted
Barrett.

Weather: 83 degrees, overcast. Wind: 18 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - GIL MECHE
CLE - C.C. SABATHIA

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: J BUCK (.245, 0-FOR-0, BB)
T PENA JR (.277, 0-FOR-1)
D DEJESUS (.281, 0-FOR-2)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (5) VS CLEVELAND (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .281
M Grudzielanek 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .285
M Teahen rf 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 .286
B Butler dh 2 1 2 2 0 0 0 .315
E Brown lf 2 1 1 3 0 0 1 .230
E German 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .278
A Gordon 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .245
T Pena Jr ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277

Totals 15 5 6 5 1 1 3

BATTING: 2B - B Butler (6, C Sabathia); M Teahen (15, C Sabathia). HR - E Brown
(4, 3rd inning off C Sabathia 2 on, 1 Out). RBI - B Butler 2 (16), E Brown 3
(38). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E German 1, D DeJesus 1. Team
LOB - 2.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .278
C Blake 3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .273
V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .321
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
J Peralta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .282
R Garko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .296
T Nixon rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .237
B Francisco lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .345
J Barfield 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .259

Totals 11 0 2 0 0 2 4

BATTING: Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 203 -- 5
CLEVELAND - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 3 2 0 0 0 2 0 3.46

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sabathia 3 6 5 5 1 1 1 3.83

Pitches-strikes: G Meche 54-37; C Sabathia 43-30. Ground balls-fly balls: G
Meche 2-5; C Sabathia 3-5. Batters faced: G Meche 11; C Sabathia 16.

UMPIRES: HP--Mark Carlson. 1B--Larry Young. 2B--Chad Fairchild. 3B--Ted
Barrett.

Weather: 83 degrees, overcast. Wind: 18 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CLEVELAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - GIL MECHE
CLE - C.C. SABATHIA

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: V MARTINEZ (.321, 0-FOR-1)
T HAFNER (.261, 0-FOR-1)
J PERALTA (.282, 1-FOR-1)</div>