• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Chen, Royals wrap set with Indians

May 30, 2012 - 2:49 PM (Sports Network) - Panamanian-born lefty Bruce Chen aims for a fourth win in five starts today when the Kansas City Royals visit Progressive Field for the final game of a three-game set with the Cleveland Indians.

The 34-year-old, who debuted in the majors with the Atlanta Braves in 1998, was 0-4 through his initial six starts of 2012 before a three-start streak yielded defeats of Boston, Texas and Arizona between May 9-19.

In those three starts, Chen allowed 20 hits and six runs in 19 2/3 innings.

He was hit hard in one start since the winning stretch, dropping to 3-5 on the season after surrendering six runs on seven hits in four innings of an 8-2 loss at Baltimore on May 25.

Now 63-63 in 327 career appearances, Chen is 5-3 in 12 games against Cleveland with a 4.78 earned run average across 52 2/3 innings.

He's opposed by Venezuelan youngster Jeanmar Gomez, who turned 10 years old in the same year Chen began his career in Atlanta.

Now 23, Gomez made 11 appearances in each of his first two seasons with the Indians while winning nine of 17 decisions.

He opened this season with a two-inning relief stint on April 11 against the Chicago White Sox, then became a starter three days later with a two-inning stint in Kansas City - where he allowed a run on no hits.

His initial win of 2012 came seven days later at Oakland and Gomez has gone on to allow 39 hits and 22 runs in 46 innings while starting.

Gomez is 2-2 in six career starts against the Royals with a 3.81 ERA.

On Tuesday, Mike Moustakas drove in a career-high four runs to power the Royals to an 8-2 win.

Alex Gordon and Johnny Giavotella both had two hits and an RBI for Kansas City, which rebounded from Monday's 8-5 loss and has won three of four overall.

Will Smith (1-1) earned his first major-league win by limiting Cleveland to two first-inning runs. He gave up four total hits and struck out five over six frames.

Justin Masterson (2-4) was tagged for eight runs - seven earned - on nine hits in six innings to absorb the loss, the fourth in five games for the Indians, who fell a half-game behind the Chicago White Sox in the American League's Central Division.

Kansas City is fourth, seven games behind the leaders.

The Indians will be without designated hitter Travis Hafner, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday because of inflammation in his right knee. He is hitting .242 with six homers and 23 RBI in 39 games this season.

Cleveland has won five of eight from the Royals this season.