The Royals stretched their fourth-place cushion over the Indians to two games by pounding Fausto Carmona on the way to their second straight victory in this series.
Indians catcher Chris Gimenez got the worst of a second-inning collision with the Royals' Mitch Maier, but held onto the ball for the out after a strong throw from right fielder Shin-Soo Choo Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Manager Manny Acta says Fausto Carmona isn't in a slump, but if it walks like a slump and talks like a slump, it could be a slump.
Not only did Carmona lose for the fourth time in his last five starts, but he did not look happy with himself or his teammates. TV cameras showed him yelling in the dugout Wednesday night during the Indians' ugly 9-7 loss to the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
The Indians entered this series tied for last place with the Royals in the AL Central. This was their chance to elevate themselves, but instead trail Kansas City by two games after losing the first two games of the series.
The Tribe has lost five straight to the Royals this year. Kansas City leads the season series, 5-2.
Carmona is 1-4 with a 7.07 ERA in his last five starts. He's allowed 22 earned runs and 46 hits in 28 innings. He gave up seven runs and nine hits in five innings Wednesday. When he left, the Royals held a 7-2 lead.
Before the game, Acta said there was nothing wrong with Carmona (11-11, 4.14). He felt he was having a tremendous year compared to last year. No argument there.
"Fausto has given us a chance to win every five days," said Acta.
Based on Wednesday night's showing, that statement was open for debate.
Carmona seemed especially frustrated in the fourth when Yuniesky Betancourt's two-out single darted past Andy Marte at third to score two runs and give the Royals a 5-1 lead. Carmona hit the next batter before retiring Gregor Blanco at first by taking a flip from Matt LaPorta.
It took Carmona forever to walk off the field with his head down. TV cameras showed him apparently yelling at himself or someone else in the dugout after that inning.
The Indians made it 5-2 in the fifth on Asdrubal Cabrera's double off Bruce Chen, but the Royals came right back with another two-run inning off Carmona in the fifth to make it 7-2.
Jason Kendall singled, stole second and scored on Billy Butler's single. Butler, who went to second on Michael Brantley's throw to the plate, went to third on a grounder and scored on Wilson Betemit's sac fly.
The Indians scored twice in the sixth to make it 7-4. Chris Gimenez doubled home both runs to knock Chen (8-6, 4.61) out of the game, but the Indians could not stop the Royals.
Hector Ambriz started the sixth in place of Carmona and gave up a one-out homer to Betnacourt and a bunt single to Chris Getz. Frank Herrmann relieved. Gregor Blanco greeted him with a double and Kendall scored Getz with a sacrifice fly for a 9-4 lead.
Carmona was hit early and hard as the Royals took a 5-1 lead through four innings.
The Royals took a 1-0 lead in the first on Butler's sacrifice fly, but the Indians tied the score on Shelley Duncan's leadoff homer in the second, which ended an 0-for-19 slump.
Kansas City came back with two-run innings in the second and fourth. Mitch Maier hit a two-run triple in the second for a 3-1 lead. The inning could have been bigger, but on Getz's fly ball to right, Shin-Soo Choo made the catch and threw out Maier at the plate. Maier bowled over Gimenez, who held onto the ball.
Chen allowed four runs on 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked one on 99 pitches, including 68 strikes. He's 2-0 against the Tribe this year and 2-2 lifetime.
Carmona is 5-3 lifetime against the Royals.
The Indians out-hit the Royals, 17-12. Cabrera and Choo led the way with three hits each. They put two runners on in the ninth, but Joakim Soria pitched out of trouble for his 35th save.
The Indians have lost nine of their last 12 games. They're 6-10 in August and 15-17 since the All-Star break.