Sep 16, 2007, 14:44 GMT
- The Cleveland Indians continue their push towards the postseason this afternoon when they try and complete a sweep in their three- game series with the Kansas City Royals at Jacobs Field.
Cleveland reduced its magic number for clinching its first AL Central title since 2001 to nine on Saturday, as Fausto Carmona was brilliant, tossing eight shutout innings, and Travis Hafner hit a solo home run to help lift the Indians to a 6-0 win.
Carmona (17-8) gave up only three hits and struck out nine, while retiring the last 16 batters he faced to lower his ERA to an American League-best 3.07.
Casey Blake had a two-run single, while Asdrubal Cabrera and Franklin Gutierrez also knocked in a run for the Indians, who have won 17 of their last 21 games and remained 5 1/2 games up on the Detroit Tigers in the Central.
Cleveland begins a three-game series with the Tigers starting on Monday.
David DeJesus, Billy Butler and Jason Smith had the only hits for the Royals, who have dropped nine of their last 10 and have now been blanked eight times this season.
Zack Greinke (6-6) suffered the loss, giving up two runs -- one earned -- on four hits over 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out three and walked five.
Cleveland will hand the ball to left-hander Aaron Laffey this afternoon, as he tries to improve upon his 3-1 ledger. Laffey won his third straight decision a week ago today against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, as he allowed an earned run and six hits in five innings to lower his earned run average to 5.29.
Laffey, who will be making just seventh start of his big league career, beat the Royals earlier in the season in his only other start against them, serving up a pair of runs and eight hits in six innings.
Kansas City will pin its hopes on righty Billy Buckner, who is coming off his first major league loss. Buckner, who is 0-1 with a 5.29 ERA, was saddled with the loss on Monday against Minnesota, as he allowed three runs and three hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Buckner's first big league start came against the Indians back on August 25. He received a no-decision in that one, despite giving up just a run and seven hits in five frames.
The Indians have taken nine of their 14 meetings with the Royals this season, including six of eight encounters held at Jacobs Field. Kansas City is just 4-13 in Cleveland since the start of the 2006 season.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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