The Indians aren't exactly a fine-tuned machine in the race to get out of last place in the American League Central Division.
View full sizeJayson Nix is about to throw down his bat after striking out to end the eight inning on Thursday against Kansas City at Progressive Field. CLEVELAND, Ohio — With the service garage at the end of the road clearly visible, the Indians are not merely leaking oil. The engine is knocking, the radiator hissing and the muffler scraping asphalt.
The jalopy that is the Tribe dropped its fifth in a row Thursday night, succumbing to right-hander Sean O'Sullivan and the Royals, 4-2, at Progressive Field.
O'Sullivan entered with a 2-6 record and 6.58 ERA.
The Tribe (62-91) fell 1 1/2 games behind the Royals (63-89) in the race for fourth place in the AL Central.
Kansas City leads the season series, 8-7.
Of the six divisions in Major League Baseball, only the AL Central features a last-place race in doubt.
The cellar dweller long has been decided in the AL East (Orioles), AL West (Mariners), NL East (Nationals), NL Central (Pirates) and NL West (Diamondbacks).
O'Sullivan gave up two runs in six-plus innings. Philip Humber and Robinson Tejeda each worked one scoreless to set up Joakim Soria.
Soria, nicknamed, "The Mexicutioner," pitched a perfect ninth for his 34th consecutive save and 41st overall.
"O'Sullivan had three pitches and changed speeds," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "The changeup was a good pitch for him. And the way we're swinging the bat right now, we're not helping ourselves."
The Royals took a 2-0 lead in the first off right-hander Mitch Talbot.
With one out, Mike Aviles ripped a first-pitch fastball onto home run porch. Billy Butler walked and advanced to second on Wilson Betemit's single. Kila Ka'aihue walked to load the bases.
Yuniesky Betancourt grounded up the middle, where second baseman Luis Valbuena made a backhand pick and attempted a glove-flip to shortstop Drew Sutton. A first-place team turns it into a snazzy out, maybe a double play. The Indians? Of course, the flip failed to find its mark, the ball rolling past Sutton.
Butler scored on what was ruled a fielder's choice/error second baseman.
Talbot avoided further damage by striking out Alex Gordon and getting Lucas May to fly to center.
Talbot, who had not pitched since Sept. 12 because of shoulder inflammation, wobbled again in the third. Betancourt singled with one out and scooted to third on Gordon's double. Justin Germano began warming in the Tribe bullpen.
May grounded to short to drive in Betancourt for a 3-0 cushion. Mitch Maier grounded to first.
Talbot kept his team in the game by retiring the side in order in the fourth and fifth. Germano replaced him to start the sixth.
"Mitch pitched in the beginning like a guy who hadn't pitched in a while," Acta said. "The last two innings, he had a better feel for his pitches and threw the ball better."
Talbot gave up three runs on five hits in five innings. He walked three and struck out two. He threw 53 of 96 pitches for strikes.
Such outings are not career-builders, but Talbot will take it this time given how his previous appearance ended. He exited after three batters (no outs) in a loss to the Twins.
"Physically, I felt great -- probably better than I have in 95 percent of my other starts," Talbot said.
The rookie Talbot (9-13, 4.61 ERA) has won once since the All-Star break. He is 3-9 with a 6.31 ERA overall at home.
The Tribe managed three hits -- all singles -- off O'Sullivan through six. Trevor Crowe, who substituted for game-time scratch Michael Brantley, had two of them. Brantley's left hamstring tightened.
Shelley Duncan led off the seventh with a five-pitch walk. Jayson Nix followed with a double into the left-field corner. Royals manager Ned Yost hooked O'Sullivan for Humber.
After Matt LaPorta walked, Valbuena cut the deficit to 3-1 with an RBI fielder's choice. Valbuena barely beat the relay from second baseman Aviles. When Humber attempted to pick off Valbuena, the ball popped out of first baseman Butler's glove. Nix trotted home.
Pinch hitter Jordan Brown flied to the wall in right. Crowe doubled to left, Valbuena stopping at third. Sutton stayed alive with two fouls in an 0-2 count before being called out on a 1-2 pitch.
O'Sullivan (3-6, 6.28) gave up the two runs on four hits. He walked four and struck out three.
O'Sullivan's previous start came Sept. 18 against Cleveland in Kauffman Stadium. He allowed five runs on six hits in four innings of a 6-4 loss. Rain delays that night totaled 3 hours, 40 minutes.
Germano worked two scoreless inning, then gave way to Tony Sipp. Sipp's third pitch of the eighth traveled an estimated 404 feet into the seats in right, Ka'aihue providing the thunder.
Sipp, a lefty, has coughed up 12 homers, including seven to left-handed batters.
Luke Carlin debuted with the Indians at catcher in the top of the eighth. He entered after Brown pinch hit for Lou Marson.
Tribe reliever Vinnie Pestano made his major-league debut in the ninth inning. He pitched around a two-out walk. One of the outs came when Pestano caught the dangerous Butler looking.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dmanoloff@plaind.com, 216-999-4664