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Sabathia, Indians look to keep rolling at home, face Royals

Jul 14, 2007 - 2:20 PM Kansas City (38-51) at Cleveland (53-36), 7:05 pm EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) - C.C. Sabathia looks to rebound from his worst start of the season.

Sabathia and the Cleveland Indians aim for their 11th home series win of the season when they face the Kansas City Royals on Saturday.

Cleveland edged Kansas City, 5-4, on Friday when Ryan Garko hit a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth for the Indians' sixth straight home victory. Cleveland, which own the majors' best home record at 32-12, hands the ball to Sabathia to continue the streak.

Sabathia (12-3, 3.58 ERA) goes after a majors-leading 13th win and also wants to improve on his 12-6 record vs. the Royals.

However the burly lefthander was tagged for a season-high seven runs along with 10 hits in four innings in a 12-3 pounding at Detroit on July 5.

"It was a butt-kicking," Sabathia said after the game. "I've got to deal with it and be ready to pitch the next time."

The All-Star has been much better at home, going 9-1 in 12 starts for the Indians, who have won 11 of those games.

The Royals respond with Gil Meche (5-6, 3.54), who will also be looking to rebound from a rough outing. The 28-year-old righthander was tagged for six runs and five hits - including two homers - in six innings, but did not receive a decision in an 8-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays last Saturday.

Meche is even worse against Cleveland, going 1-6 with a 5.69 ERA in nine starts vs. the Indians. He has not beaten them since 2003.

Kansas City has lost 14 of its last 17 here vs. Cleveland.