Kansas City Royals vs Cleveland Indians 28 April mlb live streaming online baseball radio commentry lineups roster playoffs. Game Review: In each of the previous two seasons, Cleveland finished below .500 at home and ranked next to last in the AL in almost every offensive category.
7:05 PM ET, April 28, 2011
Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio
The Indians have been anything but quiet at Progressive Field early in 2011.
Seeking a 10th consecutive home victory, Central Division-leading Cleveland tries for a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night.
The Indians (15-8) went a combined 73-89 at home in 2009 and 2010 -- the second-worst mark in the majors over that span -- and finished 13th in the AL in runs (684), RBIs (634), average (.252) and slugging percentage (.386).
Since suffering back-to-back losses to open the season, the Indians are batting .295 and have averaged 6.1 runs over their nine-game winning streak in Cleveland.
The Indians, who haven't taken 10 straight at home since a 13-game run from April 6-May 17, 1996, defeated the Royals 7-2 on Wednesday and have outscored them 16-6 in the first two games of the series.
Grady Sizemore extended his hitting streak to five games with a 1-for-5 effort and Orlando Cabrera drove in three runs.
"It gives us a sense of security when we're not playing good on the road," Cabrera said. "Come back home and establish ourselves as a team that doesn't lose here. Guys hit the ball well here and we pitch really well, too."
Cleveland's starters have gone 7-0 with a 2.02 ERA during the team's run at home, a trend Fausto Carmona (1-3, 5.76 ERA) will look to continue.
Carmona takes the mound looking to bounce back from Saturday's ugly start, during which he allowed six runs, seven hits and four walks over five innings of a 10-3 loss at Minnesota.
"I couldn't throw the first-pitch strike," Carmona told the Indians' official website. "I think I was aggressive enough. But I missed a lot of first-pitch strikes. My slider was not working."
The right-hander is 1-4 with a 6.23 ERA in his last seven outings against Kansas City. Since allowing a career-worst 10 runs in three innings and losing his season debut on April 1, Carmona has gone 1-0 and surrendered just seven hits and one earned run over his last two home starts.
Kansas City (12-12), meanwhile has lost eight of 10 since a surprising 10-4 start.
"You don't want to get to 12-12 the way we did," manager Ned Yost said. "We're going through a tough stretch and we just have to grind our way through it."
Kyle Davies (1-2, 6.23), Thursday's scheduled starter, limited Texas to three runs -- two earned -- and four hits in six innings of Saturday's 3-1 road loss. He didn't factor in the decision.
The right-hander also didn't receive a decision despite limiting the Indians to two runs and seven hits over six innings of a 7-3 loss April 18. Davies is 0-2 with a 4.63 ERA in his last four starts versus Cleveland.
Jeff Francoeur hit his team-leading fifth home run Wednesday and Mike Aviles went deep for the third time in as many games for Kansas City
Alex Gordon went 0 for 3 for the Royals, ending the AL's longest hitting streak at 19 games. He's 12 for 23 all-time versus Carmona.
7:05 PM ET, April 28, 2011
Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio
The Indians have been anything but quiet at Progressive Field early in 2011.
Seeking a 10th consecutive home victory, Central Division-leading Cleveland tries for a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night.
The Indians (15-8) went a combined 73-89 at home in 2009 and 2010 -- the second-worst mark in the majors over that span -- and finished 13th in the AL in runs (684), RBIs (634), average (.252) and slugging percentage (.386).
Starting PitchersWith 68 runs, 18 homers and 67 RBIs at home, though, Cleveland ranks near the top of the league in those categories, among others.
Kansas City: Davies (1-2, 6.23 ERA)
Cleveland: Carmona (1-3, 5.76 ERA)
Since suffering back-to-back losses to open the season, the Indians are batting .295 and have averaged 6.1 runs over their nine-game winning streak in Cleveland.
The Indians, who haven't taken 10 straight at home since a 13-game run from April 6-May 17, 1996, defeated the Royals 7-2 on Wednesday and have outscored them 16-6 in the first two games of the series.
Grady Sizemore extended his hitting streak to five games with a 1-for-5 effort and Orlando Cabrera drove in three runs.
"It gives us a sense of security when we're not playing good on the road," Cabrera said. "Come back home and establish ourselves as a team that doesn't lose here. Guys hit the ball well here and we pitch really well, too."
Cleveland's starters have gone 7-0 with a 2.02 ERA during the team's run at home, a trend Fausto Carmona (1-3, 5.76 ERA) will look to continue.
Carmona takes the mound looking to bounce back from Saturday's ugly start, during which he allowed six runs, seven hits and four walks over five innings of a 10-3 loss at Minnesota.
"I couldn't throw the first-pitch strike," Carmona told the Indians' official website. "I think I was aggressive enough. But I missed a lot of first-pitch strikes. My slider was not working."
The right-hander is 1-4 with a 6.23 ERA in his last seven outings against Kansas City. Since allowing a career-worst 10 runs in three innings and losing his season debut on April 1, Carmona has gone 1-0 and surrendered just seven hits and one earned run over his last two home starts.
Kansas City (12-12), meanwhile has lost eight of 10 since a surprising 10-4 start.
"You don't want to get to 12-12 the way we did," manager Ned Yost said. "We're going through a tough stretch and we just have to grind our way through it."
Kyle Davies (1-2, 6.23), Thursday's scheduled starter, limited Texas to three runs -- two earned -- and four hits in six innings of Saturday's 3-1 road loss. He didn't factor in the decision.
The right-hander also didn't receive a decision despite limiting the Indians to two runs and seven hits over six innings of a 7-3 loss April 18. Davies is 0-2 with a 4.63 ERA in his last four starts versus Cleveland.
Jeff Francoeur hit his team-leading fifth home run Wednesday and Mike Aviles went deep for the third time in as many games for Kansas City
Alex Gordon went 0 for 3 for the Royals, ending the AL's longest hitting streak at 19 games. He's 12 for 23 all-time versus Carmona.