Indians lead Royals, 3-0, through three innings. Closer Chris Perez is unavailable because he is with his expectant wife, Melanie, in Tampa, Fla.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This is a daily briefing of the Indians' 2010 regular season. The Tribe plays host to the Royals tonight in the second of a four-game series at Progressive Field.
Pitching matchup: RHP Josh Tomlin (4-4, 4.73) vs. RHP Luke Hochevar (6-5, 4.79).
In-game updates: The Indians led the Royals, 3-0, through three innings.
Tomlin did not allow a hit. He walked one and struck out three.
Shin-Soo Choo had an RBI single to center in the first. He drove in Trevor Crowe from second. It made the Indians 1-for-1 with runners in scoring position after they went 0-for-6 Thursday night in a 4-2 loss to open the four-game series.
Jayson Nix homered in the second.
Travis Hafner's RBI single in the third made it 3-0. He drove in Asdrubal Cabrera, who slid through an attempted leg block by catcher Brayan Pena. Pena failed to secure the ball.
Pregame notes: Indians closer Chris Perez will not be available tonight because he flew home to Tampa, Fla., to be with his expectant wife.
Perez left the team early Friday when his wife, Melanie, went into labor with the couple's first child.
Perez owns a 0.57 ERA since June 28, having allowed two earned runs in 31 2/3 innings.
Perez has 21 saves this season. The remaining pitchers on the active roster have combined for two -- one each for Frank Herrmann and Tony Sipp.
After Perez, the Tribe pitcher with the most success as a major-league closer is Jensen Lewis, who has 14 career saves.
Cab fare: Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera returned to the lineup tonight against the Royals after missing three games because of a jammed left wrist. Center fielder Michael Brantley will not play for the second straight game because of a sore left hamstring.
Cabrera jammed the wrist Monday against the Twins at Target Field.
Brantley's hamstring acted up Thursday afternoon. He was a late scratch for a game that the Tribe lost to Kansas City, 4-2.
"Michael just has a tight hamstring, and we're going to be careful with him,'' Indians manager Manny Acta said.
Brantley stretched and threw before batting practice this afternoon. Acta said Brantley will swing the bat Saturday and run under the supervision of head athletic trainer Lonnie Soloff.
"He could be available (Saturday),'' Acta said.
For the second straight night, Trevor Crowe replaced Brantley in center and in the leadoff spot.
Brantley entered the night having hit safely in 29 of his previous 31 games.
On the mend: Second baseman Jason Donald gripped a bat and ball Friday for the first time since bruising the tendon of his right index finger while attempting to bunt Sept. 11 against the Twins.
Lineups:
Royals (63-89) -- 1. Gregor Blanco cf; 2. Mike Aviles 3b; 3. Billy Butler dh; 4. Wilson Betemit 2b; 5. Kila Ka'aihue 1b; 6. Brayan Pena c; 7. Alex Gordon lf; 8. Yuniesky Betancourt ss; 9. Mitch Maier rf; and Hochevar.
Indians (62-91) -- 1. Trevor Crowe cf; 2. Asdrubal Cabrera ss; 3. Shin-Soo Choo rf; 4. Travis Hafner dh; 5. Shelley Duncan lf; 6. Jordan Brown 1b; 7. Jayson Nix 3b; 8. Drew Sutton 2b; 9. Lou Marson c; and Tomlin.
Umpires: P -- Mark Carlson; 1b -- Jeff Kellogg; 2b -- Larry Vanover; 3b -- Jeff Nelson.