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Indians look to Lee to crown Royals

Apr 22, 2009 - 4:46 AM By Alan Ferguson Stats Writer

Kansas City (7-6) at Cleveland (5-9), 7:05 p.m. EDT

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Last season was undoubtedly Cliff Lee's finest, and the Cleveland Indians' pitcher was at his best when facing the Kansas City Royals.

Following a slow start this year, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner will look to continue his turnaround Wednesday night against the visiting Royals and help the Indians build on their own recent momentum.

Finishing 22-3 with a 2.54 ERA in 2008, Lee helped himself by going 5-0 against Kansas City and allowed just 11 earned runs. His 12 career wins over the Royals are also five more than against any other opponent, and the left-hander has recorded five straight home wins against them.

After beginning last season by winning six consecutive starts, 2009 hasn't started out well. Lee (1-2, 6.75 ERA) gave up 11 runs in his first two outings, but bounced back Thursday by allowing one over six innings in a 10-2 win over the Yankees in New York's first game at its new $1.5 billion stadium.

"I'm not comparing myself to last year," Lee told the team's official Web site. "But I feel I'm locating my pitches the way I expect of myself."

After losing their first five games and seven of their first eight - two against Kansas City -- the Indians (5-9) have won four of their past six contests with two victories over the Royals, including 8-7 on Tuesday.

Victor Martinez capped a 4-for-5 night with a two-run home run, and Grady Sizemore had a three-run drive. The Indians have batted .324 with 13 home runs during their recent run after hitting .246 with 11 homers in their first eight games.

Martinez, who leads the Indians with a .397 batting average, is 5-for-11 this season against the Royals, and hit .300 (12-for-40) versus Kansas City during a 2008 season shortened by elbow surgery. The catcher, however, is 0-for-7 in his career against Wednesday's scheduled starter, Brian Bannister.

Bannister was recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday after Doug Waechter was placed on the disabled list with a strained elbow.

Bannister started 59 games for the Royals over the past two seasons but didn't make the team in spring training. He went 0-1 with a 3.46 ERA in three starts for Omaha, and is 3-1 with a 1.91 ERA in five career appearances against Cleveland.

"He was throwing well (at Omaha)," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "It was a better fit for us."

Bannister is expected to take the rotation spot of Horacio Ramirez, who was sent to the bullpen after starting 0-1 with an 11.12 ERA in three appearances with one start.

After winning seven of its first 11 games, Kansas City (7-6) is in position for its first three-game losing streak following two one-run defeats. The Royals scored six runs in the final two innings Tuesday, but couldn't overcome an early five-run deficit and Martinez's shot in the eighth.

Kansas City also grounded into a franchise-record six double plays, including one in the eighth with the tying run on first.

"Six double plays, that's tough to do in one game," Hillman said. "That's frustrating. We didn't make enough adjustments. We have to be more patient in those situations."

The Royals' bullpen allowed three runs over the final two innings in Sunday's 6-5 loss in Texas and has given up 10 earned runs in the past four games. The team's starters have allowed nine runs in that span.