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

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

<h3>Royals seek fourth straight win and seris sweep vs. Indians</h3>



Cleveland (27-17) at Kansas City (19-28) ,8:10 pm EDT

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) - Jorge De La Rosa hopes to give</div>the Kansas City Royals something they haven't had all season.

De La Rosa and the Royals seek their season-high fourth straightvictory when facing the Cleveland Indians on Thursday.

Kansas City, which homered four times in an 11-7 victory overCleveland on Wednesday, has won three straight and is lookingfor its first series sweep of the year. The Royals (19-28) wonfor the eighth time in 10 games no longer possess the AmericanLeague's worst record. That dubious honor goes to Texas (18-29)and Tampa Bay (18-27).

De La Rosa (4-3, 3.59 ERA) takes the hill looking for his fifthwin of the season. He is coming off a two run, six-hit efforton the road vs. the Colorado Rockies last Friday in which hefailed to factor into the decision.In his victories this season, the lefthander has beenoutstanding, yielding only a run each time. He's won thrice bya 3-1 count then was victorious in an 11-1 laugher against theChicago White Sox on May 13.

It may not matter who starts for the Royals during this winningrun. Kansas City relievers have the team's last four victoriesand six of the last seven.

The loss on Tuesday dropped Cleveland one-half game behind theTigers for the lead in the American League Central. TheIndians, who are 11-13 on the road, send Jeremy Sowers (0-4,7.13 ERA) to the mound looking for his first win in 2007.

Sowers was tagged for seven runs, eight hits and two walksin a 10-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds last Saturday. Sowers is0-3 this month and hasn't won a game since September 5, 2006.

Cleveland is in danger of losing three in a row for the thirdtime in 2007.

 

AL: CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY

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

CLEVELAND KANSAS CITY
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Grady Sizemore CF .273 8 22 Esteban German LF .276 2 12
Casey Blake RF .261 5 20 David Dejesus CF .278 4 11
Travis Hafner DH .278 9 31 Mark Grudzielanek 2B .257 2 17
Victor Martinez C .319 6 34 Mark Teahen RF .303 4 25
Jhonny Peralta SS .273 10 32 Mike Sweeney DH .257 6 22
Ryan Garko 1B .325 6 15 Alex Gordon 3B .195 3 7
Jason Michaels LF .275 1 10 Ryan Shealy 1B .218 2 11
Josh Barfield 2B .230 1 21 John Buck C .310 8 18
Andy Marte 3B .195 1 8 Tony Pena Jr SS .247 0 12

Jeremy Sowers LHP (0-4, 7.13) Jorge De La Rosa LHP (4-3, 3.59)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY
WARMUPS: CLE - JEREMY SOWERS (0-4, 7.13)
KAN - JORGE DE LA ROSA (4-3, 3.59)

UMPIRES: HP - GREG GIBSON
1B - TONY RANDAZZO
2B - CHARLIE RELIFORD
3B - TOM HALLION

WEATHER: 62 Degrees, cloudy
WIND: 2 mph, out to right</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY
STARTING BATS: CLE - JEREMY SOWERS AND VICTOR MARTINEZ
KAN - JORGE DE LA ROSA AND JOHN BUCK

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.273, 8 HR, 22 RBI)
C BLAKE (.261, 5 HR, 20 RBI)
T HAFNER (.278, 9 HR, 31 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY RYAN GARKO SCORED TRAVIS HAFNER AND VICTOR
MARTINEZ.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, R GARKO ON FIRST, J PERALTA ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 2
KANSAS CITY 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J MICHAELS (.275, 1 HR, 10 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY JASON MICHAELS (2) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 1ST OFF JORGE DE LA ROSA SCORED JHONNY PERALTA AND RYAN
GARKO.
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 5, KANSAS CITY 0

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J BARFIELD (.230, 1 HR, 21 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 5 3 0
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - JEREMY SOWERS
KAN - JORGE DE LA ROSA

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: E GERMAN (.276, 2 HR, 12 RBI)
D DEJESUS (.278, 4 HR, 11 RBI)
M GRUDZIELANEK (.257, 2 HR, 17 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (5) VS KANSAS CITY (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .273
C Blake rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .259
T Hafner dh 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .278
V Martinez c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .324
J Peralta ss 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .273
R Garko 1b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .331
J Michaels lf 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .284
J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .229
A Marte 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .195

Totals 5 5 3 5 3 1 1

BATTING: HR - J Michaels (2, 1st inning off J De La Rosa 2 on, 2 Out). RBI - R
Garko 2 (17), J Michaels 3 (13). 2-out RBI - R Garko 2, J Michaels 3. Team LOB
- 0.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E German lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
D DeJesus cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
M Grudzielanek 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
M Teahen rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
M Sweeney dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .195
R Shealy 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Grudzielanek-R Shealy).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 5 -- 5
KANSAS CITY - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Sowers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7.13

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
J De La Rosa 1 3 5 5 3 1 1 4.30

Pitches-strikes: J De La Rosa 33-13. Ground balls-fly balls: J De La Rosa
0-1. Batters faced: J De La Rosa 8.

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 AT KANSAS CITY
CONFIRMED STARTERS: CLE - JEREMY SOWERS
KAN - JORGE DE LA ROSA</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - JEREMY SOWERS
KAN - JORGE DE LA ROSA

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: A MARTE (.195, 1 HR, 8 RBI)
G SIZEMORE (.273, 0-FOR-0, BB)
C BLAKE (.259, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (5) VS KANSAS CITY (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .273
C Blake rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .259
T Hafner dh 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .278
V Martinez c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .324
J Peralta ss 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .273
R Garko 1b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .331
J Michaels lf 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .284
J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .229
A Marte 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .195

Totals 5 5 3 5 3 1 1

BATTING: HR - J Michaels (2, 1st inning off J De La Rosa 2 on, 2 Out). RBI - R
Garko 2 (17), J Michaels 3 (13). 2-out RBI - R Garko 2, J Michaels 3. Team LOB
- 0.

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


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E German lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .283
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277
M Grudzielanek 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .257
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301
M Sweeney dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .195
R Shealy 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247

Totals 3 0 1 0 1 0 2

BATTING: GIDP - D DeJesus. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Grudzielanek-R Shealy).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 5 -- 5
KANSAS CITY - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Sowers 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 6.96

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
J De La Rosa 1 3 5 5 3 1 1 4.30

Pitches-strikes: J Sowers 17-8; J De La Rosa 33-13. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Sowers 2-1; J De La Rosa 0-1. Batters faced: J Sowers 4; J De La Rosa 8.

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 AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY VICTOR MARTINEZ SCORED CASEY BLAKE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, V MARTINEZ ON FIRST, T HAFNER ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 6
KANSAS CITY 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J PERALTA (.273, 0-FOR-0, BB)</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 6 4 0
KANSAS CITY 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - JEREMY SOWERS
KAN - JORGE DE LA ROSA

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: M SWEENEY (.257, 6 HR, 22 RBI)
A GORDON (.195, 3 HR, 7 RBI)
R SHEALY (.218, 2 HR, 11 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (6) VS KANSAS CITY (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .273
C Blake rf 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 .258
T Hafner dh 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 .278
V Martinez c 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .329
J Peralta ss 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 .271
R Garko 1b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .331
J Michaels lf 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .284
J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .229
A Marte 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190

Totals 9 6 4 6 4 1 4

BATTING: 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). 2-out RBI - R Garko 2, J
Michaels 3, V Martinez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Peralta 1.
Team LOB - 2.

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


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E German lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .283
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277
M Grudzielanek 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .257
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301
M Sweeney dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .195
R Shealy 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247

Totals 3 0 1 0 1 0 2

BATTING: GIDP - D DeJesus. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Grudzielanek-R Shealy).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 51 -- 6
KANSAS CITY - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Sowers 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 6.96

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
J De La Rosa 2 4 6 6 4 1 1 4.37

HBP - G Sizemore (by J De La Rosa). Pitches-strikes: J Sowers 17-8; J De La
Rosa 53-21. Ground balls-fly balls: J Sowers 2-1; J De La Rosa 2-2. Batters
faced: J Sowers 4; J De La Rosa 14.

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
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 5 1 6 4 0
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 2 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - JEREMY SOWERS
KAN - JORGE DE LA ROSA

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: R GARKO (.331, 1-FOR-1, 2 RBI)
J MICHAELS (.284, 1-FOR-1, HR, 3 RBI)
J BARFIELD (.229, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (6) VS KANSAS CITY (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .273
C Blake rf 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 .258
T Hafner dh 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 .278
V Martinez c 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .329
J Peralta ss 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 .271
R Garko 1b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .331
J Michaels lf 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .284
J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .229
A Marte 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190

Totals 9 6 4 6 4 1 4

BATTING: 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). 2-out RBI - R Garko 2, J
Michaels 3, V Martinez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Peralta 1.
Team LOB - 2.

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


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E German lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .283
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277
M Grudzielanek 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .257
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301
M Sweeney dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
A Gordon 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .193
R Shealy 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .228
J Buck c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .307
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247

Totals 7 0 2 0 1 0 3

BATTING: GIDP - D DeJesus. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Grudzielanek-R Shealy).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 51 -- 6
KANSAS CITY - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Sowers 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 6.80

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
J De La Rosa 2 4 6 6 4 1 1 4.37

HBP - G Sizemore (by J De La Rosa). Pitches-strikes: J Sowers 29-16; J De La
Rosa 53-21. Ground balls-fly balls: J Sowers 2-4; J De La Rosa 2-2. Batters
faced: J Sowers 8; J De La Rosa 14.

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
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 5 1 0 6 4 0
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 2 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - JEREMY SOWERS
KAN - JORGE DE LA ROSA

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: T PENA JR (.247, 0 HR, 12 RBI)
E GERMAN (.283, 1-FOR-1)
D DEJESUS (.277, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (6) VS KANSAS CITY (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .273
C Blake rf 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 .258
T Hafner dh 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 .278
V Martinez c 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .329
J Peralta ss 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 .271
R Garko 1b 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 .328
J Michaels lf 2 1 1 3 0 0 0 .280
J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 .229
A Marte 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .186

Totals 12 6 4 6 5 1 5

BATTING: 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). 2-out RBI - R Garko 2, J
Michaels 3, V Martinez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Peralta 1.
Team LOB - 3.

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


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E German lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .283
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277
M Grudzielanek 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .257
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301
M Sweeney dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
A Gordon 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .193
R Shealy 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .228
J Buck c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .307
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247

Totals 7 0 2 0 1 0 3

BATTING: GIDP - D DeJesus. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Grudzielanek-R Shealy).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 510 -- 6
KANSAS CITY - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Sowers 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 6.80

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
J De La Rosa 3 4 6 6 5 1 1 4.30

HBP - G Sizemore (by J De La Rosa). Pitches-strikes: J Sowers 29-16; J De La
Rosa 69-30. Ground balls-fly balls: J Sowers 2-4; J De La Rosa 3-4. Batters
faced: J Sowers 8; J De La Rosa 18.

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 AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY MARK GRUDZIELANEK SCORED TONY PENA JR.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, E GERMAN ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 6
KANSAS CITY 1 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: M TEAHEN (.301, 0-FOR-1)</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 6 4 0
KANSAS CITY 0 0 1 1 4 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - JEREMY SOWERS
KAN - JORGE DE LA ROSA

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.273, 0-FOR-0, BB, HBP)
C BLAKE (.258, 0-FOR-2)
T HAFNER (.278, 0-FOR-0, 2 BB)</div>