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Indians target sweep of KC with Carmona on mound

Apr 28, 2011 - 3:09 PM (Sports Network) - Fausto Carmona hopes for a little consistency this evening when the Cleveland Indians try to complete a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field.

Carmona, of course, won 19 games for the Tribe in 2007, but has struggled to regain that form ever since. He showed signs of the pitcher he was four years ago last season, but this year he has just continued to frustrate the Indians.

The 27-year-old right-hander was charged with the loss on Saturday in Minnesota, as he allowed six runs and seven hits in five innings, dropping him to 1-3, while raising his earned run average to 5.76.

"I felt like he wasn't aggressive enough in the zone and that kind of cost him," said Indians manager Manny Acta about his starter. "Hopefully, next time around that doesn't happen."

Carmona's poor showing came on the heels of three terrific outings that saw him surrender a total of three runs in 21 2/3 innings.

In 15 games (13 starts) against the Royals Carmona is 5-4 with a 4.80 ERA.

The Indians won their ninth straight game at Progressive Field on Wednesday, as Orlando Cabrera drove in three runs to help Cleveland to a 7-2 win. Travis Hafner, Jack Hannahan and Lou Marson each drove in a run for the Indians, who haven't won 10 straight at home since a 13-game tear from April 6-May 17, 1996

Josh Tomlin (4-0) went six innings and gave up two runs on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts.

"Tomlin was very good again tonight, 73 percent of his pitches for strikes. He attacked hitters with [his] four pitches. He could throw every one of them for strikes," said Cleveland manager Manny Acta. "A couple of guys got him good earlier, but he continued to attack the zone."

Jeff Francis (0-3) was tagged for six runs -- five earned -- on 10 hits in just three-plus innings for the Royals, who have dropped four straight and eight of their last 10.

"I'm not sharp, and I think there's certain things I could have done, sequence-wise, that would have put me in a better position to have a little more room for error," said Francis.

While Alex Gordon had his 19-game hitting streak stopped in the loss, Jeff Francoeur extended his hitting streak to a career-high tying 16 games as he went 2-for-4 with a solo homer.

Tonight, Kansas City will hand the ball to righty Kyle Davies, who is 1-2 with a 6.23 ERA. Davies absorbed the loss on Saturday in Texas, as he allowed three runs (two earned) and four hits in six innings.

"It was a tough ball game and we were in it the whole time," Davies said. "We're going to come back tomorrow and we're going to fight."

Davies did not get a decision against the Indians two starts ago, despite surrendering two runs in six innings and striking out seven, but is 3-5 lifetime against them with a 5.47 ERA in 10 starts.

The Indians, who won 10 of their 18 matchups with KC a year ago, have beaten the Royals in seven of the last nine meetings in Cleveland.