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Indians look to begin streak, host Royals

Apr 20, 2009 - 8:52 PM By Dan Pieringer Stats Writer

Kansas City (7-5) at Cleveland (4-9), 7:05 p.m. EDT

CLEVELAND (AP) -- For the second straight season, the Cleveland Indians have been unable to avoid a disappointing start.

They look to begin putting it behind them when they open a three-game home series against the AL Central rival Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.

The Indians lost 10 of their first 15 in 2008 en route to an 81-81 finish, one season after coming within a game of reaching the World Series. They're off to another rough start this year, dropping nine of their first 13.

Cleveland put together its two best offensive performances of the season during a four-game set at the new Yankee Stadium over the weekend, but settled for a split of the series after falling 7-3 to the Yankees on Sunday.

The Indians blew a 3-0 lead and failed to add to a 3-1 advantage in the seventh inning despite loading the bases with one out.

"That was big," manager Eric Wedge told the team's official Web site. "We've got to at least push one more across there."

The Indians also missed some opportunities in their first series with the Royals last week. They outhit Kansas City 30-23 but were outscored 17-10 while losing two of three at Kauffman Stadium.

Though they were 12-for-39 (.308) with runners in scoring position, they struck out 14 times and recorded only nine RBIs in those situations.

Kansas City went 8-for-18 (.444) with three strikeouts and 14 RBIs with runners in scoring position during the series.

The Royals, however, weren't able to deliver in the clutch in their last game Sunday. They went into the eighth inning with a two-run lead, but several defensive miscues helped Texas tie it before the Rangers won 6-5 on Michael Young's home run in the ninth.

"We're never in that situation if we make a couple of plays," manager Trey Hillman told the Royals' official Web site.

Kansas City - surprisingly among three teams tied for the division lead at 7-5 - will try to bounce back against Cleveland's Aaron Laffey. The left-hander is making his second start of the season, both coming against the Royals.

Laffey gave up two runs and three hits in 5 1-3 innings but didn't get a decision in the Indians' 5-4 victory Wednesday.

Right-hander Sidney Ponson (0-1, 4.50 ERA) held the Indians to two runs in six innings of that game but failed again to get his first career win against them.

Ponson, who will try again Tuesday, is 0-7 with an 8.60 ERA in 14 games against Cleveland. He's 0-4 with a 9.45 ERA in seven outings at Progressive Field.

Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner is 4-for-7 with a home run, two doubles and three walks in his career versus Ponson, while center fielder Grady Sizemore is 3-for-6 with a homer and two walks against him.

The Royals went 5-4 in Cleveland last season, the first time they've posted a winning record there since taking eight of 10 in 2003.