Written by Jonathan Knight

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IMPROVEMENT: Sunday’s win in Kansas City guaranteed the Indians would have a better record in 2011 than they did in 2010 - the second straight season in which they’d improved their record from the year before.

ALL-TIME TOTALS: The Indians’ all-time record against the Royals jumped to 295-278. Their mark against the Tigers dropped to 1,028-1,060.

COULD BE PUSHING FOR 20: If the Indians had scored at least three runs in each of Justin Masterson’s 19 starts that resulted in either a loss or a non-decision, he would have five more victories.

FOR THE RECORD: The Tribe is now 25-24 in one-run games and 26-28 against Central Division opponents.

SWEPT AGAIN: The Detroit debacle marked the fourth time this season the Indians had been swept in a series lasting at least three games. All four occurred after June 1.

VERILE VERLANDER: In his last 11 starts against the Indians going into Thursday, Justin Verlander was 8-1 with a 2.65 ERA.

FLEDGING FAUSTO: Fausto Carmona’s miserable outing on Wednesday night was his worst since. It was Carmona’s worst statistical start since giving up eight runs in one inning on June 27, 2007 in a 13-7, loss to Oakland. For what it’s worth, Carmona went on to win his next five starts after that one.

MORE FAUSTO: Now with 14 losses on the season, Fausto Carmona has matched his career-high, set last year.

NO DIFFERENCE: For all the worries the Indians had about Justin Verlander, in the Detroit series they hit .143 (3 for 21) and scored four runs against Verlander while hitting .149 (11 for 74) and scoring five runs against all other Detroit pitchers.

UNDERWHELMING UBALDO: The combined record of the Indians and Rockies in games Ubaldo Jimenez started this year now stands at 11-17. The Tribe is 3-4 in games he’s started for Cleveland.

OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS: Since holding a seven-game lead over the Tigers on May 23, the Indians are 40-55, while Detroit has gone 57-39. Over that period, the Tigers won nine of 11 games against the Indians.

TIGER TROUBLES: In four starts against Detroit this year (three with Cleveland, one with Colorado) Ubaldo Jimenez  is 2-2 with a 5.40 ERA.

FUNNY: Despite being outscored by nearly three times as many runs in the Detroit series (22-9), the Indians hit almost three times as many home runs (5-2).

MORE FUNNY: Over their three-game series, the Tigers scored eight more runs (22) than the Indians' total number of hits (14)

GO FIGURE: Somehow the Indians took two out of three in Kansas City despite the Royals having a better batting average (.267 to .238), team ERA (4.67 to 4.85), and clip with runners in scoring position (.333 to .261). The Indians had an edge in extra base hits (13-9) and home runs (4-2).

RIPPING THE ROYALS: The Indians won 12 of their 18 games against the Royals this year - six in Cleveland and six in Kansas City. Barring winning their last six against Detroit, the Indians will have beaten the Royals more times than any other team they faced.

THE DRIVE FOR FIVE: The Indians are now 46-13 when they score at least five runs and 9-41 when their opponent scores at least five.

PROGRESS REPORT: The Indians are averaging 4.21 runs per game and allowing 4.43. Their team batting average is .247 (10th in the AL) and team ERA is 4.00 (ninth in the AL).

A YEAR AGO: After 140 games in 2010, the Indians stood at 57-83, last place in the AL Central, 26 games back of the first-place Twins.

 

KANSAS CITY SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Royals and Indians each scored 15 runs, with each team scoring one unearned run and committing three errors.

Overall Hitting

Cleveland 25 for 105 (.238), 8 walks

Kansas City 27 for 101 (.267), 8 walks

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Cleveland 6 for 23 (.261), 20 left on base

Kansas City 8 for 24 (.333), 19 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Cleveland 13 (4 HR)

Kansas City 9 (2 HR)

 

Overall Pitching

Cleveland 26 IP, 27 H, 8 BB, 15 SO, 14 ER, 4.85 ERA

Kansas City 27 IP, 25 H, 8 BB, 16 SO, 14 ER, 4.67 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

Cleveland 2-1; 18.1 IP, 19 H, 5 BB, 9 SO, 9 ER, 4.42 ERA

Kansas City 1-2; 19 IP, 20 H, 5 BB, 11 SO, 9 ER, 4.26 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Cleveland 2 saves; 7.2 IP, 8 H, 3 BB, 6 SO, 5 ER, 5.87 ERA

Kansas City 8 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 5 SO, 5 ER, 5.63 ERA

 

DETROIT SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Tigers outscored the Indians, 22-9. Each team scored one unearned run. The Tigers committed two errors and the Indians committed one.

Overall Hitting

Detroit 33 for 110 (.300), 15 walks

Cleveland 14 for 95 (.147), 6 walks

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Detroit 13 for 31 (.419), 25 left on base

Cleveland 4 for 12 (.333), 12 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Detroit 11 (2 HR)

Cleveland 6 (5 HR)

 

Overall Pitching

Detroit 27 IP, 14 H, 6 BB, 32 SO, 8 ER, 2.67 ERA

Cleveland 27 IP, 33 H, 15 BB, 25 SO, 21 ER, 7.00 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

Detroit 3-0; 20.1 IP, 10 H, 4 BB, 22 SO, 6 ER, 2.66 ERA

Cleveland 0-3; 14.1 IP, 18 H, 7 BB, 14 SO, 14 ER, 8.79 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Detroit 2 saves; 6.2 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 10 SO, 2 ER, 2.70 ERA

Cleveland 12.2 IP, 15 H, 8 BB, 11 SO, 7 ER, 4.97 ERA

 

UP NEXT:

at Chicago White Sox [71-69]

(Thursday 8:10 p.m.; Friday 8:10 p.m., Saturday 4:10 p.m., Sunday 2:10 p.m.)

Probable Starters:

Huff (2-3, 2.81 ERA); Gomez (2-2, 4.11 ERA); Jimenez (2-2, 5.27 ERA); Carmona (6-14, 5.18 ERA)

Last year: Series tied, 9-9

This year: White Sox lead series, 7-3

 

at Texas Rangers [81-63]

(Tuesday 8:05 p.m., Wednesday 7:05 p.m., Thursday 8:05 p.m.)

Probable Starters:

Masterson (11-9, 3.01 ERA); Huff; Gomez

Last year: Rangers won series, 4-2

This year: Rangers lead, 6-1

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