GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: CLEVELAND (27-17) at KANSAS CITY (19-28)

AL: CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: S Costa in right field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 10
KANSAS CITY 3 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: R Garko (.331, 2-FOR-4, 2 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - PITCHING CHANGE
KAN: DAVID RISKE (0-2, 3.60) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 10, KANSAS CITY 3

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: R GARKO (.331, 2-FOR-4, 2 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: D Riske relieved J Gobble.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 10
KANSAS CITY 3 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: R Garko (.331, 2-FOR-4, 2 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 5 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 10 11 0
KANSAS CITY 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 3 9 0 (BOT 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - MIKE KOPLOVE
KAN - DAVID RISKE

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: T PENA JR (.248, 1-FOR-3)
E GERMAN (.304, 4-FOR-4)
D DEJESUS (.278, 1-FOR-4)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (10) VS KANSAS CITY (3) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 2 1 0 1 2 0 1 .270
C Blake rf 5 1 2 3 0 0 3 .265
T Hafner dh 3 1 0 0 2 2 1 .273
V Martinez c 5 1 2 1 0 0 1 .322
J Peralta ss 3 2 1 0 1 0 2 .274
a-M Rouse ph-ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143
R Garko 1b 5 1 3 2 0 1 1 .336
J Michaels lf 4 2 2 3 1 0 1 .286
J Barfield 2b 3 1 1 0 2 2 1 .232
A Marte 3b 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 .174

Totals 36 10 11 10 8 5 16

a-popped out to shortstop for J Peralta in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - C Blake (14, J De La Rosa); J Peralta (6, J De La Rosa); R Garko
(5, J Peralta); J Barfield (6, J Peralta). 3B - C Blake (2, J Peralta). HR - J
Michaels (2, 1st inning off J De La Rosa 2 on, 2 Out). RBI - R Garko 2 (17), J
Michaels 3 (13), V Martinez (35), G Sizemore (23), C Blake 3 (23). 2-out RBI -
R Garko 2, J Michaels 3, V Martinez, G Sizemore, C Blake 3. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - T Hafner 1, V Martinez 1, C Blake 1, J Peralta 1.
Team LOB - 8.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Peralta-J Barfield-R Garko).


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E German lf 4 1 4 0 0 0 0 .304
D DeJesus cf 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 .278
M Grudzielanek 2b 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 .257
a-A Berroa ph-2b 2 0 0 0 0 2 3 .143
M Teahen rf 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .298
b-S Costa ph-rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .231
M Sweeney dh 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .257
A Gordon 3b 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 .191
R Shealy 1b 3 0 1 1 1 0 1 .222
J Buck c 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 .298
T Pena Jr ss 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 .248

Totals 31 3 9 3 3 3 18

a-struck out swinging for M Grudzielanek in the 5th; b-singled to center for M
Teahen in the 8th.

BATTING: SF - M Grudzielanek. RBI - M Grudzielanek (18), S Costa (3), R Shealy
(12). 2-out RBI - R Shealy. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Buck 2.
GIDP - D DeJesus. Team LOB - 8.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - E German (R Garko at Home). DP: 1 (M
Grudzielanek-R Shealy).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 510 040 000 -- 10
KANSAS CITY - 001 000 02 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Sowers 7 6 1 1 1 1 0 6.29
R Hernandez 2/3 3 2 2 1 2 0 5.60
A Fultz 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1.98
M Koplove 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.50

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
J De La Rosa 4 1/3 6 9 9 7 2 1 4.65
J Peralta 2 2/3 4 1 1 1 1 0 4.70
J Gobble 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.37
D Riske 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.43

A Fultz pitched to 1 batter in the 8th.

IBB - J Michaels (by J De La Rosa). HBP - G Sizemore (by J De La Rosa).
Pitches-strikes: J Sowers 94-59; R Hernandez 26-17; A Fultz 4-0; M Koplove 5-3;
J De La Rosa 98-44; J Peralta 49-31; J Gobble 13-6; D Riske 10-10. Ground
balls-fly balls: J Sowers 5-15; R Hernandez 0-0; A Fultz 0-0; M Koplove 0-1; J
De La Rosa 5-5; J Peralta 3-3; J Gobble 1-1; D Riske 0-2. Batters faced: J
Sowers 27; R Hernandez 6; A Fultz 1; M Koplove 1; J De La Rosa 26; J Peralta
12; J Gobble 3; D Riske 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Greg Gibson. 1B--Tony Randazzo. 2B--Charlie Reliford. 3B--Tom
Hallion.

Weather: 64 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 6 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 5 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 10 11 0
KANSAS CITY 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 9 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: CLE - JEREMY SOWERS, ROBERTO HERNANDEZ (8TH), AARON FULTZ (8TH),
MIKE KOPLOVE (8TH) AND VICTOR MARTINEZ

KAN - JORGE DE LA ROSA, JOEL PERALTA (5TH), JIMMY
GOBBLE (8TH), DAVID RISKE (9TH) AND JOHN BUCK

HOME RUNS: CLE - JASON MICHAELS (2) OFF JORGE DE LA ROSA IN THE 1ST, 2 ON

KAN - NONE</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 5 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 10 11 0
KANSAS CITY 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 9 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: CLE - JEREMY SOWERS, ROBERTO HERNANDEZ (8TH), AARON FULTZ (8TH),
MIKE KOPLOVE (8TH) AND VICTOR MARTINEZ

KAN - JORGE DE LA ROSA, JOEL PERALTA (5TH), JIMMY
GOBBLE (8TH), DAVID RISKE (9TH) AND JOHN BUCK


WP - JEREMY SOWERS (1-4)
LP - JORGE DE LA ROSA (4-4)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: CLE - JASON MICHAELS (2) OFF JORGE DE LA ROSA IN THE 1ST, 2 ON

KAN - NONE


TIME: 3:11 ATT: 11,681

PROBABLES: SEA - FELIX HERNANDEZ (2-2, 2.77)
KAN - GIL MECHE (3-2, 2.44)

PROBABLES: CLE - PAUL BYRD (4-1, 3.55)
DET - NATE ROBERTSON (4-3, 3.62)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (10) VS KANSAS CITY (3) - FINAL

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 2 1 0 1 2 0 1 .270
C Blake rf 5 1 2 3 0 0 3 .265
T Hafner dh 3 1 0 0 2 2 1 .273
V Martinez c 5 1 2 1 0 0 1 .322
J Peralta ss 3 2 1 0 1 0 2 .274
a-M Rouse ph-ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143
R Garko 1b 5 1 3 2 0 1 1 .336
J Michaels lf 4 2 2 3 1 0 1 .286
J Barfield 2b 3 1 1 0 2 2 1 .232
A Marte 3b 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 .174

Totals 36 10 11 10 8 5 16

a-popped out to shortstop for J Peralta in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - C Blake (14, J De La Rosa); J Peralta (6, J De La Rosa); R Garko
(5, J Peralta); J Barfield (6, J Peralta). 3B - C Blake (2, J Peralta). HR - J
Michaels (2, 1st inning off J De La Rosa 2 on, 2 Out). RBI - R Garko 2 (17), J
Michaels 3 (13), V Martinez (35), G Sizemore (23), C Blake 3 (23). 2-out RBI -
R Garko 2, J Michaels 3, V Martinez, G Sizemore, C Blake 3. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - T Hafner 1, V Martinez 1, C Blake 1, J Peralta 1.
Team LOB - 8.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Peralta-J Barfield-R Garko).


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E German lf 5 1 4 0 0 0 0 .301
D DeJesus cf 5 1 1 0 0 0 4 .276
M Grudzielanek 2b 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 .257
a-A Berroa ph-2b 3 0 0 0 0 2 4 .125
M Teahen rf 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .298
b-S Costa ph-rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .231
M Sweeney dh 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .257
A Gordon 3b 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 .191
R Shealy 1b 3 0 1 1 1 0 1 .222
J Buck c 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 .298
T Pena Jr ss 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 .248

Totals 34 3 9 3 3 3 20

a-struck out swinging for M Grudzielanek in the 5th; b-singled to center for M
Teahen in the 8th.

BATTING: SF - M Grudzielanek. RBI - M Grudzielanek (18), S Costa (3), R Shealy
(12). 2-out RBI - R Shealy. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Berroa
1, J Buck 2. GIDP - D DeJesus. Team LOB - 9.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - E German (R Garko at Home). DP: 1 (M
Grudzielanek-R Shealy).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 510 040 000 -- 10
KANSAS CITY - 001 000 020 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Sowers (W, 1-4) 7 6 1 1 1 1 0 6.29
R Hernandez 2/3 3 2 2 1 2 0 5.60
A Fultz 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1.98
M Koplove 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.00

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
J De La Rosa (L, 4-4) 4 1/3 6 9 9 7 2 1 4.65
J Peralta 2 2/3 4 1 1 1 1 0 4.70
J Gobble 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.37
D Riske 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.43

A Fultz pitched to 1 batter in the 8th.

IBB - J Michaels (by J De La Rosa). HBP - G Sizemore (by J De La Rosa); T
Pena Jr (by M Koplove). Pitches-strikes: J Sowers 94-59; R Hernandez 26-17; A
Fultz 4-0; M Koplove 24-13; J De La Rosa 98-44; J Peralta 49-31; J Gobble 13-6;
D Riske 10-10. Ground balls-fly balls: J Sowers 5-15; R Hernandez 0-0; A Fultz
0-0; M Koplove 2-2; J De La Rosa 5-5; J Peralta 3-3; J Gobble 1-1; D Riske 0-2.
Batters faced: J Sowers 27; R Hernandez 6; A Fultz 1; M Koplove 5; J De La Rosa
26; J Peralta 12; J Gobble 3; D Riske 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Greg Gibson. 1B--Tony Randazzo. 2B--Charlie Reliford. 3B--Tom
Hallion.

T--3:11. Att--11,681.
Weather: 64 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 6 mph, out to
right.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
CLEVELAND 10
KANSAS CITY 3 FINAL</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLEVELAND (10) AT KANSAS CITY (3) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CLEVELAND 1ST: G Sizemore walked. C Blake lined into double play, second
to first, G Sizemore doubled off first. T Hafner walked. V Martinez singled to
right, T Hafner to second. J Peralta walked, T Hafner to third, V Martinez to
second. R Garko singled to left, T Hafner and V Martinez scored, J Peralta to
second. J Michaels homered to left, J Peralta and R Garko scored. J Barfield
struck out swinging. (5 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 5, KANSAS CITY 0.

CLEVELAND 2ND: A Marte popped out to shortstop. G Sizemore hit by pitch.
C Blake grounded into fielder's choice to third, G Sizemore out at second.
T Hafner walked, C Blake to second. V Martinez singled to left center, C Blake
scored, T Hafner to third. J Peralta grounded out to third. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) CLEVELAND 6, KANSAS CITY 0.

KANSAS CITY 3RD: T Pena Jr singled to right. E German reached on infield
single to second, T Pena Jr to second. D DeJesus flied out to center, T Pena Jr
to third. M Grudzielanek hit sacrifice fly to center, T Pena Jr scored.
M Teahen grounded out to pitcher. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 6,
KANSAS CITY 1.

CLEVELAND 5TH: J Peralta doubled to deep left center. R Garko struck out
swinging. J Michaels intentionally walked. J Barfield walked, J Peralta to
third, J Michaels to second. J Peralta relieved J De La Rosa. A Marte fouled
out to first. G Sizemore walked, J Peralta scored, J Michaels to third,
J Barfield to second. C Blake tripled to deep right, J Michaels, J Barfield and
G Sizemore scored. T Hafner struck out swinging. (4 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
CLEVELAND 10, KANSAS CITY 1.

KANSAS CITY 8TH: M Rouse at shortstop. R Hernandez relieved J Sowers.
E German reached on infield single to pitcher. D DeJesus singled to center,
E German to second. A Berroa struck out swinging. S Costa hit for M Teahen.
S Costa singled to center, E German scored, D DeJesus to third. M Sweeney struck
out swinging. S Costa to second on fielder's indifference. A Gordon walked.
A Fultz relieved R Hernandez. R Shealy walked, D DeJesus scored, S Costa to
third, A Gordon to second. M Koplove relieved A Fultz. J Buck lined out to
left. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 10, KANSAS CITY 3.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLEVELAND (10) AT KANSAS CITY (3) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cleveland Starting Lineups -- G Sizemore CF, C Blake RF, T Hafner DH,
V Martinez C, J Peralta SS, R Garko 1B, J Michaels LF, J Barfield 2B, A Marte 3B,
J Sowers LHP.

Kansas City Starting Lineups -- E German LF, D DeJesus CF, M Grudzielanek 2B,
M Teahen RF, M Sweeney DH, A Gordon 3B, R Shealy 1B, J Buck C, T Pena Jr SS,
J De La Rosa LHP.

Umpires -- Greg Gibson (HP), Tony Randazzo (1B), Charlie Reliford (2B),
Tom Hallion (3B).

Gametime Weather: 64 degrees, Cloudy, wind out to right at 6 mph.


CLEVELAND 1ST: G Sizemore walked. C Blake lined into double play, second
to first, G Sizemore doubled off first. T Hafner walked. V Martinez singled to
right, T Hafner to second. J Peralta walked, T Hafner to third, V Martinez to
second. R Garko singled to left, T Hafner and V Martinez scored, J Peralta to
second. J Michaels homered to left, J Peralta and R Garko scored. J Barfield
struck out swinging. (5 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 5, KANSAS CITY 0.

KANSAS CITY 1ST: E German singled to center. D DeJesus grounded into
double play, shortstop to second to first, E German out at second.
M Grudzielanek walked. M Teahen flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
CLEVELAND 5, KANSAS CITY 0.

CLEVELAND 2ND: A Marte popped out to shortstop. G Sizemore hit by pitch.
C Blake grounded into fielder's choice to third, G Sizemore out at second.
T Hafner walked, C Blake to second. V Martinez singled to left center, C Blake
scored, T Hafner to third. J Peralta grounded out to third. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) CLEVELAND 6, KANSAS CITY 0.

KANSAS CITY 2ND: M Sweeney popped out to second. A Gordon lined out to
shortstop. R Shealy singled to center. J Buck flied out to right. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 6, KANSAS CITY 0.

CLEVELAND 3RD: R Garko flied out to left. J Michaels grounded out to
third. J Barfield walked. A Marte popped out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) CLEVELAND 6, KANSAS CITY 0.

KANSAS CITY 3RD: T Pena Jr singled to right. E German reached on infield
single to second, T Pena Jr to second. D DeJesus flied out to center, T Pena Jr
to third. M Grudzielanek hit sacrifice fly to center, T Pena Jr scored.
M Teahen grounded out to pitcher. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 6,
KANSAS CITY 1.

CLEVELAND 4TH: G Sizemore flied out to center. C Blake doubled to deep
right. T Hafner grounded out to first, C Blake to third. V Martinez grounded
out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 6, KANSAS CITY 1.

KANSAS CITY 4TH: M Sweeney singled to right. A Gordon flied out to left.
R Shealy popped out to shortstop. J Buck popped out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) CLEVELAND 6, KANSAS CITY 1.

CLEVELAND 5TH: J Peralta doubled to deep left center. R Garko struck out
swinging. J Michaels intentionally walked. J Barfield walked, J Peralta to
third, J Michaels to second. J Peralta relieved J De La Rosa. A Marte fouled
out to first. G Sizemore walked, J Peralta scored, J Michaels to third,
J Barfield to second. C Blake tripled to deep right, J Michaels, J Barfield and
G Sizemore scored. T Hafner struck out swinging. (4 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
CLEVELAND 10, KANSAS CITY 1.

KANSAS CITY 5TH: T Pena Jr flied out to center. E German reached on
infield single to third. D DeJesus popped out to shortstop. A Berroa hit for
M Grudzielanek. A Berroa struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
CLEVELAND 10, KANSAS CITY 1.

CLEVELAND 6TH: A Berroa at second base. V Martinez flied out to right.
J Peralta grounded out to third. R Garko doubled to deep left. J Michaels
singled to left, R Garko thrown out at home. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
CLEVELAND 10, KANSAS CITY 1.

KANSAS CITY 6TH: M Teahen lined out to second. M Sweeney flied out to
left. A Gordon grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 10,
KANSAS CITY 1.

CLEVELAND 7TH: J Barfield doubled to deep left. A Marte grounded out to
first, J Barfield to third. G Sizemore fouled out to third. C Blake grounded
out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 10, KANSAS CITY 1.

KANSAS CITY 7TH: R Shealy fouled out to first. J Buck flied out to right.
T Pena Jr grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 10,
KANSAS CITY 1.

CLEVELAND 8TH: J Gobble relieved J Peralta. T Hafner struck out looking.
V Martinez grounded out to shortstop. M Rouse hit for J Peralta. M Rouse popped
out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 10, KANSAS CITY 1.

KANSAS CITY 8TH: M Rouse at shortstop. R Hernandez relieved J Sowers.
E German reached on infield single to pitcher. D DeJesus singled to center,
E German to second. A Berroa struck out swinging. S Costa hit for M Teahen.
S Costa singled to center, E German scored, D DeJesus to third. M Sweeney struck
out swinging. S Costa to second on fielder's indifference. A Gordon walked.
A Fultz relieved R Hernandez. R Shealy walked, D DeJesus scored, S Costa to
third, A Gordon to second. M Koplove relieved A Fultz. J Buck lined out to
left. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 10, KANSAS CITY 3.

CLEVELAND 9TH: S Costa in right field. D Riske relieved J Gobble. R Garko
singled to right. J Michaels flied out to right. J Barfield struck out
looking. A Marte flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 10,
KANSAS CITY 3.

KANSAS CITY 9TH: T Pena Jr hit by pitch. E German grounded out to first,
T Pena Jr to second. D DeJesus flied out to center. A Berroa grounded out to
third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 10, KANSAS CITY 3.</div>

 

Five-run first helps Indians end two-game skid

<h3>CLEVELAND 10, KANSAS CITY 3</h3>KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Indians wastedlittle time working out their frustration against the KansasCity Royals.

Jason Michaels homered to cap a five-run first and Jeremy Sowerspitched seven solid innings as the Indians cruised to a 10-3victory over the Royals on Thursday in the final game of thethree-game set.

After dropping the first two games of the series against itsAmerican League Central Division rival, Cleveland pounced onKansas City starter Jorge De La Rosa (4-4) as the lefthanderwalked the bases loaded. Michaels followed a two-run single byRyan Garko with a three-run shot to stake the Indians to a quick5-0 lead.

The run support was more than enough for Sowers (1-4), who wascoming off three straight outings in which he allowed at leastsix runs. The lefthander tied a season high by pitching sevenframes, yielding just one run and six hits with a walk and astrikeout for Cleveland, which improved to 25-10 in contests inwhich its starter lasts at least six innings.

Already leading 6-1, the Indians added four more runs in thefifth. Grady Sizemore drew a bases-loaded walk, and Casey Blakefollowed with a three-run triple to expand Cleveland's bulge tonine.

Blake and Garko each had two hits for the Indians.

De La Rosa (4-4) was ineffective from the start en route to hisworst outing of the season. The lefthander surrendered six hitsand struck out two but set career highs with nine runs allowedand seven walks.

Kansas City mounted a brief rally in the eighth, as Shane Costahit a RBI single and Ryan Shealy drew a bases-loaded walk tonarrow the deficit to 10-3. However, John Buck - who leads theRoyals with eight homers - belted a hard-hit liner off Indiansreliever Mike Koplove right at Michaels in left field for thefinal out of the inning.

Esteban German recorded a career-high four hits for the Royals,who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end.

 

Five-run first helps Indians end two-game skid

<h3>CLEVELAND 10, KANSAS CITY 3</h3>KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Indians wastedlittle time working out their frustration against the KansasCity Royals.

Jason Michaels homered to cap a five-run first inning and JeremySowers pitched seven solid innings as the Indians cruised to a10-3 victory over the Royals on Thursday in the final game ofthe three-game set.

After dropping the first two games of the series against itsAmerican League Central Division rival, Cleveland pounced onKansas City starter Jorge De La Rosa (4-4) as the lefthanderwalked the bases loaded. Michaels followed a two-run single byRyan Garko with a three-run shot to stake the Indians to a quick5-0 lead.

"He (De La Rosa) walked three guys in that first, and Garko hadthat two-run single in front of me and I was thinking just (to)have a good at-bat," Michaels said of his home run. "He threw afirst-pitch curveball and then he threw me a fastball. I justhappened to get good wood on it. That was big; we needed thatinning. We did. Especially with him walking three guys (in theinning)."

The run support was more than enough for Sowers (1-4), who wascoming off three straight outings in which he allowed at leastsix runs. The lefthander tied a season high by pitching sevenframes, yielding just one run and six hits with a walk and astrikeout for Cleveland, which improved to 25-10 in contests inwhich its starter lasts at least six innings.

"It's my ninth start; I was finally able to get a win," Sowerssaid. "The team played great defense; they hit the ball well.And I actually pitched decent, finally. Whether it's a turningpoint or not, time will tell on that one. It's a step in theright direction. The plane ride will be a little more fun.Even my lifting and running tomorrow will be a little more fun."

"Jeremy threw really good tonight and got better as the gamewent along," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "He did a goodjob of making some adjustments as the game went along, moresowith himself. I felt he was stronger than he was at thebeginning."

Already leading 6-1, the Indians added four more runs in thefifth. Grady Sizemore drew a bases-loaded walk, and Casey Blakefollowed with a three-run triple to expand Cleveland's bulge tonine.

"Casey had a great at-bat," Wedge said. "Every time we playhere it's like it is a full moon. It is unbelievable.Obviously, that at-bat with (the) bases loaded (when Caseytripled) ended up being a big hit for us."

Blake and Garko each had two hits for the Indians.

De La Rosa (4-4) was ineffective from the start en route to hisworst outing of the season. The lefthander surrendered six hitsand struck out two but set career highs with nine runs allowedand seven walks.

"He just wasn't able to repeat (his delivery)," Royals managerBuddy Bell said. "It just looked like he had trouble commandinghis fastball or, at least, he didn't use his fastball as muchas he had in the past. Then, he couldn't get to anything else.In the third or fourth inning, it looked like he was settlingin, but by then, he had way too many pitches." "I'm OK; I justtried to do too much," De La Rosa said. "I don't know why."

Kansas City mounted a brief rally in the eighth, as Shane Costahit a RBI single and Ryan Shealy drew a bases-loaded walk tonarrow the deficit to 10-3. However, John Buck - who leads theRoyals with eight homers - belted a hard-hit liner off Indiansreliever Mike Koplove right at Michaels in left field for thefinal out of the inning.

Esteban German recorded a career-high four hits for the Royals,who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end.