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Indians send Carrasco to hill in Kansas City

May 17, 2011 - 2:50 PM (Sports Network) - Carlos Carrasco hopes for the same kind of offensive support that the Cleveland Indians provided in Monday's opener when they conclude a brief two-game set with the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

After having their last two games postponed by rain, Cleveland's bats exploded on Monday in a 19-1 win. Michael Brantley and Matt LaPorta both drove in four runs for the Indians, who tallied their highest-scoring game since beating the Yankees 22-4 in New York on April 18, 2009.

Travis Buck, who was called up Monday after the Tribe placed outfielder Grady Sizemore on the 15-day disabled list with a right knee contusion, went 3-for-6 with an RBI and scored three times.

Travis Hafner and Orlando Cabrera also had three RBI apiece as Cleveland beat the Royals for the fourth straight time and improved upon its major league- best mark of 25-13.

Josh Tomlin (5-1) got the easy win, allowing one run on five hits in six innings.

Billy Butler knocked in the lone run for Kansas City, which has lost three straight overall and four in a row to the Tribe.

Kyle Davies (1-6) left the game in the first inning with anterior shoulder soreness but was still charged with the loss, allowing two runs in just one- third of an inning. Vin Mazzaro turned in an ugly stat line for the Royals, giving up 14 runs on 11 hits in 2 1/3 innings.

"It was a tough night and a tough situation," said Mazzaro, who was optioned to Triple-A Omaha after the loss. "I just tried to do my best with it."

The game got out of hand with a 10-run top of the fourth that made it 13-0. The Indians scored nine of the runs with two outs, highlighted by Hafner's three-run double and Brantley's three-run homer.

"We swung the bats really well, but he was really put in a tough spot," Hafner said of the 14-run attack on Mazzaro. "He was scheduled to pitch tomorrow and with the starter (Davies) getting hurt, he was really put in a tough spot."

Carrasco gets the call for the Tribe tonight in his second start following a stint on the disabled list. Carrasco was charged with the loss on Wednesday against Tampa Bay, as he allowed four runs and six hits in five innings, dropping him to 1-2 on the year to go along with a 5.29 ERA.

Carrasco did not get a decision against the Royals earlier in the year, but is 1-1 in three starts against them with a 4.91 ERA.

So, with Mazzaro now unavailable the Royals will turn to right-hander Sean O'Sullivan, who is 2-2 on the year with a 3.79 ERA. O'Sullivan beat the Yankees on Thursday, but allowed four runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings.

O'Sullivan gave up two runs in a no-decision against the Indians earlier in the year, but is 1-1 in three starts against them with a 5.06 ERA.

The Indians have beaten KC in six of eight meetings this season and nine of 11 dating back to last year.