Indians shut out by lowly Royals

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

The Cleveland Indians seem to reach a new low with every game.

Two days after being no-hit by Los Angeles pitcher Ervin Santana and committing five errors, the Indians were routed by Kansas City 12-0 on Friday night, their seventh loss in eight games.

“That was a rough one,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “I’m glad it only counts for one because we got beat up pretty bad.”

Carlos Carrasco (8-9) gave up three home runs and was ejected in the fourth inning for throwing at Billy Butler’s head after giving up Melky Cabrera’s grand slam.

The loss dropped the Indians 21/2 games behind Detroit in the AL Central, Cleveland’s largest deficit of the season. The Indians have scored just 13 runs during their most recent slide. Cleveland has fallen to 52-51 and has dropped five of six on its current homestand.

Right fielder Kosuke Fukudome, acquired from the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, went 0 for 4 and didn’t get the ball out of the infield.

The Indians are playing without Shin-Soo Choo (broken thumb) and Grady Sizemore (sports hernia surgery and bruised right knee). General manager Chris Antonetti is trying to swing another trade to boost the offense, but at this point it’s unclear if anything can help the Indians get out of their funk.

“We continue to struggle offensively, and our guys in our clubhouse are going to have to be the guys to snap out of it,” Acta said. “We can’t be expecting somebody to come in from the outside and do it.”

Friday night’s loss was tough to watch for the crowd of 35,390 that began to boo when the Indians fell behind 7-0 in the fourth. The only reason most of the fans stayed around was to see a postgame fireworks show.

The Royals hit four home runs and pounded out 16 hits, while Jeff Francis (4-11) won for the first time since June 10.

Carrasco lost his fifth straight start. Besides Cabrera’s grand slam, the right-hander also gave up a two-run homer to Butler in the first and a solo shot to Alex Gordon in the second. Butler added a solo homer in the eighth off Frank Herrmann.

Carrasco has allowed seven home runs in his losing streak. He also lost for the sixth time in his last seven decisions overall.

Players from both dugouts and bullpens came on the field after Carrasco’s pitch sailed past Butler’s head and went back to the screen. Several Royals players gestured and yelled at Carrasco as he was walking to Cleveland’s dugout. Carrasco shouted back before leaving the field.

Carrasco admitted he was upset that Cabrera stood at home plate and admired his 13th homer, but denied the pitch to Butler was intentional.

“I didn’t throw at anybody, the baseball just ran away,” he said. “I know it looked bad after a home run.”