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Indians look for series sweep against Royals

Sep 16, 2007 - 1:42 PM Kansas City (63-84) at Cleveland (87-61) 1:05 pm EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) - The Cleveland Indians look to complete a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. Fausto Carmona pitched eight outstanding innings, leading the Indians to a 6-0 victory on Saturday.

Cleveland, which has won six of its last seven games, has a magic number of nine to clinch the American League Central Division. The Indians hold a 5 1/2-game lead in the division over Detroit (82-67).

Rookie Aaron Laffey (3-1, 5.29 ERA) will look to win back-to-back games for the second time this season when he takes the mound for the Indians.

Cleveland is undefeated in the last five games Laffey has started. Last Sunday, the lefthander gave up two runs and six hits over five innings in a 6-2 triumph over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Laffey faced the Royals in the third start of his career, limiting them to two runs and eight hits over six innings in a 9-4 win on August 25.

Kansas City will counter fellow rookie Billy Buckner (0-1, 5.29), who pitched 5 1/3 innings, surrendering three runs and three hits during his last start against Minnesota on Monday.

The 24-year-old righthander struggled with his control, walking five while throwing 95 pitches.

Despite suffering the loss, Buckner took a big step forward after allowing six runs and seven hits in four innings during a 9-8 Kansas City loss to Texas on September 4.