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Indians aim to rebound from no-hitter in opener with Royals

Jul 29, 2011 - 2:59 PM (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Indians return to action for the first time since they were on the short end of history when they host the Kansas City Royals tonight in the first of three games at Progressive Field.

The Indians were held in check by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Wednesday in Cleveland, when Ervin Santana tossed the eighth no-hitter in franchise history in a 3-1 victory.

Santana (6-8) gave up an unearned run in the first inning thanks to an error and a wild pitch. He struck out 10 and walked one en route to his 11th career complete game.

It was the first time the Indians have failed to record a hit since the Yankees' Jim Abbott twirled a no-hitter on Sept. 4, 1993 and the 11th time the Tribe have been no-hit in franchise history. It was also the first no-hitter in Progressive Field history.

Cleveland starter David Huff (1-1) did not pitch poorly in defeat, allowing two runs -- one earned -- on five hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out four and did not issue a walk.

Cleveland right-hander Carlos Carrasco gets the start with a chance to end a four-start losing skid.

The 24-year-old was 8-4 on the season after a 6-2 interleague win at Arizona on June 29, but has subsequently dropped decisions to the New York Yankees, Toronto, Baltimore and the Chicago White Sox.

He's given up a combined 17 runs on 28 hits in 20 1/3 innings in those games while his earned run average has swelled from 3.54 to 4.25.

Carrasco is 2-1 in four career starts against the Royals.

Kansas City lefty Jeff Francis is also on a streak-ending quest, having dropped five straight decisions since early June.

The 30-year-old Canadian won his third game in nine decisions against the Angels on June 10 in California, but is 0-5 in seven starts since, though he's given up three runs or less five times.

Francis allowed nine hits and three runs over five innings in his most recent start on July 23 against Tampa Bay and got a no-decision in the Royals' 5-4 win.

Kansas City is 6-15 in 21 games he's started this season.

On Thursday in Boston, Luke Hochevar threw seven solid innings as the Royals salvaged a four-game series split with a 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

Hochevar (7-8) was facing a Red Sox team that scored 25 runs over the past two games, but held Boston to just two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six.

Billy Butler smacked a three-run homer off Josh Beckett during a four-run fourth inning that gave the Royals the lead. They won for the sixth time in their last nine games.

Joakim Soria tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his 19th save of the year.

The Indians have won seven of nine over the Royals this season, including a three-game sweep at home in late April.