Indians go quietly in Fourth of July loss to Royals Brantley's HR provides only run; Tomlin allows five over 5 2/3 frames By Alec Shirkey / MLB.com | 7/5/2014 12:05 AM ET CLEVELAND -- Josh Tomlin's Independence Day outing began plenty strong, but it ended with fireworks courtesy of Mike Moustakas. The only pop on Cleveland's end came after the game, as explosions of red and green filled the darkened sky at Progressive Field.

With two outs in the fifth inning, Tomlin served up a full-count fastball to Moustakas, who sent it back the other way for a three-run homer that all but sealed the Tribe's 7-1 loss on Friday night. The right-hander had kept the Indians within two runs until that point, but he left charged with five earned runs on 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings after the decisive blast -- a more respectable performance than the numbers would indicate.

The start marked the third time over his last four games that Tomlin has surrendered five runs, while Moustakas now has four homers and 20 RBIs at Progressive Field.

"I didn't feel like I was fighting [my command] that much," Tomlin said. "Made a few mistakes throughout those sequences, but I felt like I made the pitches overall for the most part. Then Moustakas, that blow kind of took the wind out of us a little bit."

The Cleveland bats were of little help, falling largely silent in front of a sellout crowd of 39,020. Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura proved nearly untouchable for Indians hitters up and down the lineup, needing only 103 pitches to work through eight scoreless innings before his shutout bid was spoiled on a ninth-inning solo shot by Michael Brantley. He allowed just six hits and a pair of walks over 8 1/3 frames.

"He throws 100 [mph], first of all. He has a good and a good curveball," outfielder Michael Bourn said. "He's a you want to attack, get to early and not let him settle in. We had a couple chances, but for the most part he was on tonight. He kept us off balance. We hit some balls hard right at people. We've done that a lot the last month."

Ventura spent much of the outing working with a clean set of bases and, excluding the lone homer, faced real trouble only when Brantley and Carlos Santana rapped out consecutive singles in the fourth inning. However, that scoring threat came to a quick end once Jason Kipnis hit into an inning-ending double play, and Ventura would go on to retire 12 of his next 15 batters.

But Tribe manager Terry Francona noted that his lineup was also the victim of some tough luck at the plate.

"I thought we went through a period where I think out of 12 batters, we hit eight balls hard," Francona said. "Didn't have much to show for it. Had first and third with Kip up, [and the] double play."

Second baseman Christian Colon -- a late addition to the starting lineup after Omar Infante was scratched -- sparked the Royals' offense from the No. 9 spot, slapping across a triple for his first Major League hit. He scored on the ensuing Lorenzo Cain single to put the Royals up, 1-0, in the third inning. The Colon-Cain tag team struck again in their next at-bats, hitting back-to-back doubles that tacked on another run for the visiting club.

"You're trying to feel [Colon] out a little bit," Tomlin said of the Royals rookie. "He put some good swings on some fastballs in that I thought were decently located."

By the sixth inning, the traffic had finally caught up with Tomlin, who gave up singles to Salvador Perez -- one of three from him on the night -- and Alcides Escobar, who floated a two-out bloop just beyond the reach of Kipnis' waiting glove. The inning would live on and give the Royals what they needed to pull ahead 5-0 and never look back.

With the defeat, the Tribe (41-44) falls to 3-4 against Kansas City this season, slips to eight games back in the division and extends its losing streak against the American League Central to nine games.

"[We need] to just try to close this first half up before the All-Star Break strong and see where we end up," Bourn said.

House aims for first win against former first-rounder Guthrie takes mound for Royals against team that drafted him By Jackson Alexander / MLB.com | 7/4/2014 11:15 PM ET T.J. House takes the mound Saturday night against the Royals and looks to further ensconce himself in his new role as the team's No. 5 starter.

House, a rookie who did not begin the season on the roster, has filled in admirably while Zach McAllister recovers from a lower back strain injury that landed him on the disabled list in late May. In fact, House's solid performance at the Major League level has allowed the Indians to be cautious with McAllister's return.

House has posted a 4.28 ERA in seven appearances (six starts) thus far. He'll be opposed by Kansas City starter Jeremy Guthrie (5-6, 3.69 ERA).

House comes off a solid start that resulted in a 3-0 Cleveland loss. He allowed two runs (one earned) and six hits plus one walk in six innings, but he took the loss against the Mariners on Sunday.

The start followed a demotion to Triple-A on June 16.

"I had a little time to go down to Triple-A for a few days and work on some things I felt I needed to improve on," House said. "Definitely felt a little better out there. ... Overall, just the competitiveness, being able to execute what I wanted to do out there felt better."

In order to notch his first MLB victory, House must tame Lorenzo Cain and Christian Colon, the No. 1 and No. 9 hitters, respectively, who sparked the Royals to a 7-1 series-opening win Friday.

Colon earned his first Major League start when second baseman Omar Infante was scratched with lower back stiffness. Colon responded with a triple, two doubles and three runs scored.

He can thank Cain for the first two runs, as the Royals' leadoff man drove Colon in twice with a single in the third and a double in the fifth to put Kansas City ahead, 2-0. Mike Moustakas added a three-run home run in the sixth for insurance.

The two hits snapped an 0-for-10 slump for Cain that included six over his last three games.

Indians: Brantley building All-Star case Cleveland outfielder Michael Brantley continued to make a case for being named to the American League All-Star team with another big game in the Indians' losing effort Friday.

Brantley finished 2-for-4 at the plate and cracked his 13th home run in the ninth inning to end Royals starter Yordano Ventura's shutout. His slash line sits at .314/.381/.510 with nine games remaining until the All-Star break.

Brantley also recently notched his 10th outfield assist, which places him tied with A's outfielder Yoenis Cespedes for the most in the Majors.

Royals: Guthrie faces former team Guthrie receives an opportunity to beat the team that drafted him Saturday.

The Indians selected Guthrie in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2002 Draft. He spent three forgettable seasons with the big league club, managing just 37 innings and a 6.08 ERA from 2004-06.

Guthrie's performances against his former team in the following eight years have been just as rough. In 12 games (10 starts) against the Tribe, he holds a 5.37 ERA.

Cleveland battered Guthrie in an April 21 matchup this season. He allowed 10 hits and four runs in 6 1/3 innings of a 4-3 loss.

Worth noting • Friday's loss dropped the Indians to 11-6 at home against the Royals dating back to September 2012. Cleveland has won four of the last five series vs. Kansas City at home.

• Nick Swisher has batted .372 in 43 at-bats against Guthrie with a pair of homers, one triple and seven doubles.

Swisher nominated for Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Honor goes to one Major Leaguer, one Hall of Famer and one Navy Chief Petty Officer By Alec Shirkey / MLB.com | 7/4/2014 9:00 P.M. ET CLEVELAND -- Nick Swisher was terrified.

Sitting in a helicopter in the middle of war-torn Afghanistan was not exactly where he'd pictured spending his Thanksgiving back in 2010. But there he was, compelled by his desire to express -- in person -- just how much he appreciated the men and women of the United States' armed forces.

"I'm not going to lie, I can't say I wasn't scared," Swisher said. "To have the honor and privilege to go over there was amazing. It's a trip I'll never forget and something I was proud to say that I did."

Swisher and his wife, Joanna Garcia, stopped at a total of 14 forward operating bases -- "pretty much front lines, where the fight takes place," said Swisher -- during their trip to the far side of the world with former Under Secretary of the Army Joseph Westphal. Instead of casual meet- and-greets at well-fortified outposts, Swisher found himself running for his life so that he could visit with soldiers on the edge of a war.

"When you land, you don't just land and walk to the next destination. You land full-geared up, helmets, vest, everything and you run. Finally you get into the safe zone. Everyone's got a gun. And they're saying, 'Mr. Swisher, what're you doing here?'" Swisher said. "[One soldier] said, 'Sir, no one's ever been here before.'"

It was for that journey, along with his involvement in the Wounded Warrior Project and Operation Homefront, that Swisher was nominated for the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award for the second time since it was first given out in 2013. Joining him are Adam LaRoche of the Nationals, Jonathan Lucroy of the Brewers, Charlie Morton of the Pirates, Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox and Brad Ziegler of the Diamondbacks.

The award, which goes to one active Major Leaguer, one Hall of Famer and one Navy Chief Petty Officer, is meant to honor those who have achieved successful careers on the field while serving both country and reaching out to the community. This year's Hall of Fame nominees are Johnny Bench, Tommy Lasorda, Monte Irvin, Whitey Ford and Willie Mays.

Each nominee was recognized at Progressive Field on Friday before Cleveland's tilt with the Royals.

"I think that's a pretty cool award that [Swisher's] nominated for," Tribe manager Terry Francona said. "Whether he wins or not, the fact that you're trying to do something for other people, regardless of what it is, is always a neat thing. I hope those things don't go unnoticed, because there's a lot of players that do a lot of good things."

The award is named in memory of former Indians Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller, who served three years in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

"I got to know Bob on a personal level," said award creator Peter Fertig, who invited Feller to write the introduction to a children's book he had authored before Feller's death. "Somebody who just stepped away from the game and came to the service of our country at a time of national need. I wanted to honor him."

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander won last year's current player award for his assistance of veterans in need of mental health services.

"I thought I had it wrapped up last year, being a Cleveland guy and all," Swisher said. "But any time your name is in the same sentence as a man like Bob Feller for everything he stood for, everything he did for this game, everything he did for this country. ... It's an honor even being a nominee."

But whether he ultimately wins or not, Swisher can at least claim that his actions have matched his intentions to help those in the community -- and on the other side of the world.

"Now that I have a daughter, I can pass on these things to her," Swisher said. "I can say, 'Hey, I'm not just talking about it, we've acually done that.'"

Francona content to assist AL All-Star team By Alec Shirkey / MLB.com | 7/4/2014 7:20 P.M. ET CLEVELAND -- Terry Francona naturally hoped he would be choosing the American League's coaching staff for the All-Star Game, considering the honor goes to the skipper who won last year's AL pennant. In a way, though, Cleveland's manager is also fine simply getting a chance to fully appreciate the atmosphere at Target Field in Minnesota.

"I'm actually looking forward to going and not being the manager," Francona said. "To be able to go and enjoy the game ... because you really don't have that chance [as the manager]. There's so many things going on and you're trying to appease everybody. Now that the game counts, it makes it that much harder, because you still feel an obligation to play as many guys as you can. It puts an added pressure on the manager."

Francona is no stranger to the process, having led the AL squad in 2005 and '08 during his Boston days, so he'll have an opportunity to let current Red Sox manager John Farrell know what to expect ahead of time. The inside scoop: there's less of the manager's influence on the final roster than some think.

"Really, it's the league and the manager announces it," Francona said. "Farrell not surprisingly has reached out to me."

For the Tribe, the most likely candidates to earn an All-Star selection are outfielder Michael Brantley, corner infielder Lonnie Chisenhall, catcher Yan Gomes and right-hander Corey Kluber. With managers and players allowed a say in which make the roster, Francona was naturally asked about what chance Kluber (7-6, 2.99 ERA) has to make the Midsummer Classic.

Francona was reluctant to single out his man in that regard, but he didn't hold back the praise on Kluber's 2014 campaign -- arguably the 28- year-old's best one to date.

"I think last year, he was starting to get on that roll," Francona said. "This year, he's taken it to another level -- being very consistent."

Quote to note "America's favorite pastime is the game of . For me, I grew up around this game. This is all I know. And I think baseball, Fourth of July and independence goes hand in hand." -- Nick Swisher Smoke signals • Zach McAllister allowed three runs over six innings with Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday. The right-hander has posted a 2.21 ERA, 21 strikeouts and just two walks in his three outings since coming off the disabled list on June 18.

"His last game was pretty good," Francona said. "He threw the ball well."

• Brantley may only have 10 stolen bases entering Friday, but he also has not been caught stealing. And when it comes to the outfielder's aggressiveness on the basepaths, quality over quantity is a trend the team will take every time.

"Having speed on the bases is helpful, especially going first to third. But stealing bases at a bad rate doesn't help you as much as it may appear," Francona said.

Ventura shuts down Indians in 7-1 win CLEVELAND (AP) -- Yordano Ventura's dominating performance Friday night produced plenty of superaltives.

''He was extraordinary,'' Kansas City manager Ned Yost said after the rookie right-hander pitched 8 1-3 stellar innings in the Royals' 7-1 win over the Cleveland Indians.

Ventura (6-7) blanked the Indians on four hits until Michael Brantley hit a leadoff homer in the ninth. He was pulled after Jason Kipnis' one-out single. Ventura allowed six hits and struck out four in the longest outing of his career.

Indians center fielder Michael Bourn had one of the hits off Ventura, a double in the eighth.

''Well he throws 100 (mph), first of all,'' Bourn said. ''He has a good changeup and a good curveball. We had a couple chances but for the most part he was on tonight.''

Mike Moustakas, who hit a three-run homer in the sixth gave Kansas City a 5-0 lead, was also impressed with Ventura.

''He's got such electric stuff,'' Moustakas said. ''That's what he's capable of doing.''

Salvador Perez and Christian Colon, making his first major-league start, had three hits apiece while Lorenzo Cain snapped an 0 for 11 skid with an RBI single in the third and a run-scoring double in the fifth.

The Royals, who are a major league-best 11-2 on the road since June 2, rode Ventura to their latest win away from home. He retired the first 10 hitters before Brantley singled with one out in the the fourth. Carlos Santana's single moved Brantley to third, but Kipnis bounced into a double play.

Ventura entered the ninth with 103 pitches, making it an easy decision for Yost to let him start the inning.

''I wanted to throw the complete game shutout, but I couldn't do it,'' Ventura said through teammate Bruce Chen, who translated for the pitcher, ''I was getting ahead of the hitters early in the game. They made some really good plays behind me and that gave me a lot of energy.''

View galleryVentura shuts down Indians in 7-1 win Kansas City Royals' Lorenzo Cain hits an RBI-single off Cleveland Indians Josh … Ventura, who finished with 113 pitches, came within two outs of recording Kansas City's first complete game of the season.

''I wasn't going to take him past 120 pitches,'' Yost said. ''After the home run it was like, OK the next guy who gets on that's it. He pitched very well.''

Josh Tomlin (5-6), coming off a one-hit, no-walk, 11- performance against Seattle, allowed five runs and 11 hits in 5 2-3 innings.

Moustakas' homer to right on a 3-2 pitch broke the game open. The rally began on singles by Perez and Alcides Escobar.

Colon, a late addtion to the lineup when second baseman Omar Infante was scratched with lower back tightness, was 3 for 4, including a triple in the second for his first major league hit. Colon added a double in the fifth and an RBI double in the ninth.

''That was a lot of fun,'' he said. ''I was taking my ground balls (in pregame activities) and was told I was going to play.''

Ventura has allowed three runs in 21 innings in three career starts against Cleveland. He held the Indians to one run in seven innings in a 4-1 win on June 11 in Kansas City. Ventura gave up two runs and seven hits in four innings Los Angeles Angels in his last start, an outing that was cut short by a four-hour rain delay. He had pitched seven innings in each of his previous three starts.

The Royals, who are second in the AL Central, are 3-1 on a nine-game road trip and lead third-place Cleveland by four games.

The Indians, who opened a 10-game homestand, have lost four straight at home after winning 11 of 12 at Progressive Field. Cleveland was swept by Detroit in a three-game series June 20-22.

Tomlin turned in the best performance of his career against the Mariners last Saturday. He retired the first 12 hitters before allowing a leadoff single to Kyle Seager in the fifth, Seattle's only baserunner. Tomlin's gem marked the sixth time an Indians pitcher recorded 11 strikeouts with no walks in a shutout over the past 100 years.

It was also only the third time since 2002 that a pitcher has recorded a one-hit shutout with at least 11 strikeouts and no walks.

Kansas City left fielder Alex Gordon was hitless in four at-bats and is in a 2-for-36 slump.

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera was 0 for 4 and is in a 4 for 35 skid.

NOTES: The Indians announced the game as a sellout, their third of the season. ... Indians C Yan Gomes, a native of Brazil, wore his country's soccer jersey during batting practice. He kept an eye on the scoreboard, which showed Brazil's 2-1 win over Colombia in the World Cup. ... Raul Ibanez, signed by the Royals on Monday, started in right field. He made an awkward sliding catch on Gomes' line drive in the fifth. ... Royals RHP Jeremy Guthrie (5-6) faces LHP T.J. House (0-2) on Saturday.

Indians give veteran memorable Fourth of July Joe ReedyFOX Sports Ohio CLEVELAND -- Rick Strong thought he was going to be spending a relaxing July 4 with his four buddies watching the Indians-Royals game at Progressive Field. It ended up turning into an experience he won't forget anytime soon. On a night when the Indians honored fallen, current and future members of the U.S. military as part of its Homestand Heroes event, the Army Major was selected to throw out the first pitch before Friday's game. Strong, who has served in the Army for 14 years, did not know until his wife gave him the ball on the field. "It was surprise after surprise and ended up with the first pitch," Strong said. "I asked my wife a couple times if I was throwing out the first pitch and she said no. I said 'good, because that we would make me nervous.' Then (as they were down on the field before the announcement) she gave me the ball and told me I was." When he arrived at the ballpark on Friday, Strong thought he was just going to be interviewed for a pregame feature. He ended up being surprised with his wife, parents and other family members. Strong's wife, Nikki, worked with the Indians to set up the whole day along with the first pitch. "I ruin surprises all the time because I can read people and tell what it is going on but this was a total and complete surprise," he said. "It was definitely an honor to do this." The first pitch came right after the Indians honored the Derga family of Columbus and TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors). The Dergas lost their son, Corporal Dustin A. Derga, in Iraq in 2005. Color guards from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard were also present for the National Anthem. Following the game, which the Indians lost 7-1 before a sold out crowd of 39,020, and before the fireworks show, new military recruits from various branches participated in an on-field enlistment ceremony.

Strong, who grew up in Parma, graduated from West Point in 2000. Besides teaching at the U.S. Military Academy, he has served at Fort Hood (Texas) and Fort Stewart (Georgia) along with doing two deployments each to Iran and Afghanistan. He finished his recent tour this past January. has taken a greater emphasis on honoring the military during Memorial Day and July 4. This year players wore Stars and Stripes caps with American League teams wearing red and National League wearing blue. So that meant for one day the Royals were in red caps and the Reds were in navy blue. "I wanted to serve my country and I enjoy what I do," Strong said. "For Major League Baseball to honor the military with the uniform and hats has been amazing." SWISHER HONORED BEFORE GAME: Indians first baseman/designated hitter Nick Swisher was honored before the game as one of the six finalists for the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award. Fellers' widow, Anne, also participated. "Any time your name is in the same sentence as Bob Feller and everything he stood and did for the game it is an honor," Swisher said. "Just to be a part of the nomination, not only me but my wife who is a major part of what we do. I could not be more happy." Swisher has participated in USO tours to Afghanistan for forward-deployed troops and is active in the Wounded Warrior Project and Operation Homefront. Swisher and his wife, Joanna, also visited troops in Afghanistan during Thanksgiving in 2011. That visit continues to have an effect on Swisher today. "We went with the Undersecretary of the Army at the time and I thought it was a USO Tour. We'll go to a couple of bases and it will be safe. It was nothing like that at all," he said. "We went to 14 Forward Operating Bases where the fight takes place. Spent most of the trip in helicopters going from place to place. I've never been in an Apache or Chinook or cargo planes that they have. Just to be a part of it and to do our part to recognize what they do. Anyone can write a check. To go face to face and thank them for what we do. I'm not going to lie to you I was scared (stiff). Just to be able to have the honor and privilege was amazing. "You land full geared up and run. We get into the safe zone and one of the soldiers with an AK asking me what I'm doing here. They were like 'no one has ever been here.' I think he meant a celebrity. It was definitely tense but something I was proud to do." The other MLB finalists are Kansas City's Billy Butler, Washington's Adam LaRoche, Milwaukee's Jonathan Lucroy, Pittsburgh's Charlie Morton and Arizona's Brad Ziegler

Royals rough up Tomlin Joe ReedyFOX Sports Ohio CLEVELAND -- After a one-hit, no-walk, 11-strikeout complete game masterpiece last Saturday in Seattle, Josh Tomlin's encore was off key. The right-hander battled but gave up five runs in 5 2/3 innings as the Royals beat the Indians 7-1 before a sold out crowd of 39,020 at Progressive Field on Friday. Tomlin had kept the damage manageable until the sixth inning. With two outs and runners at second and third, he had a full count on Mike Moustakas, but on the sixth pitch of the at-bat, Tomlin threw a cutter that caught too much of the plate and Moustakas drove it to right field for a three-run homer to make it 5-0 and end Tomlin's night. It is the third time over his last four starts that Tomlin (5-6) has allowed five earned runs. He gave up 10 hits and struck out six on 107 pitches. "I thought he pitched better than his linescore," Terry Francona said. "The three-run homer kind of skews it a bit. Up to that point he gave up a couple of single runs and some base hits but he kept it manageable. A 2-0 score is not where we want to be but it gives you a fighting chance and then the home run spread it out." Tomlin said he was trying to keep the cutter to Moustakas down and away. If it ended up being ball four, that would have brought up Christian Colon, who got his first two hits in the Majors earlier with a triple and double along with scoring the first two runs of the game.

"When the guy hits a three-run homer it is on the pitcher. I have to do a better job of limiting the damage and go to the next guy on deck," Tomlin said. Moustakas coming up with a big hit against the Indians is nothing new. In seven games this season, he is 9 for 27 with two doubles, four home runs and 10 RBI. Of the four homers, three have been in Cleveland. In 27 games at Progressive Field, Moustakas has a .305 average (32 of 105) and 20 RBI. Once again Yordano Ventura stymied the Indians. The right-hander, who allowed just a run on six hits with four strikeouts, was en route to a complete-game shutout until Michael Brantley led off the ninth with a homer to right on a 3-1 fastball. Ventura, who is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA against the Indians, had nine pitches at 100 miles or more on Friday. Of his 88 fastballs, 68 were registered at 97 mph or more. Of the balls the Indians made contact with, most of them were line drives or fly balls. Brantley and Jason Kipnis each had two hits but Kipnis also ground into a double play to end the fourth with runners at the corners and the Tribe trailing 1-0. Francona thought the Indians approach at the plate was good but they didn't have much to show for it. "He's a pitcher you want to attack early and not let him settle in but for the most part he was on tonight. He kept us off balance," Michael Bourn said. "We hit some balls hard and at people. We have to keep fighting and know where we stand." After winning 10 straight at home from mid-May to mid-June, the Indians have lost five of their last six and have dropped nine straight in the division.

Indians pregame notes Joe ReedyFOX Sports Ohio CLEVELAND -- With the All-Star teams being announced on Sunday, the discussion of who is on the roster bubble has been ramped up for the past couple days. Because of the Indians first-half struggles, Corey Kluber is likely to be one of many whose spot is not assured. Kluber, who is 7-6, is sixth in the American League in strikeouts (127) and innings pitched (117 1/3) along with being 10th in ERA (2.99). The right-hander will start Sunday's finale of the three-game series against Kansas City and would go again on Friday against the White Sox, meaning he would be eligible to pitch in the Midsummer Classic on July 15. During his pregame remarks on Friday, Terry Francona said he didn't want to single any of his guys out publicly for consideration but did say that Boston's John Farrell, who is managing the American League, did ask for opinions on Kluber. Said Francona of Kluber: "This year I think he's taken it to another level. He's been very consistent. And doing it for a long period of time, people notice." Michael Brantley is all but assured of an outfield spot while Lonnie Chisenhall might have an outside shot.

Francona has managed the All-Star Game twice and will be a part of Farrell's staff in two weeks. The one thing he is happy about is that he gets to experience it this year without being a manager. Francona also knows that due to the rules and one player from every team making it, almost all of the roster decisions are out of the manager's hands. "There's so many things going on and you're trying to appease everybody. And now the game counts, it makes it that much harder," Francona said. "Because you still feel an obligation to try to play as many guys as you can. They've got microphones in the dugout and guys getting interviewed. But the game still counts -- and that puts an added pressure on the manager." SOLD OUT: About 90 minutes before first pitch, the Indians announced that Friday's game was a sellout, which is the third one this year. ON THE FOURTH: The Tribe is 88-74 on July 4 and their .543 winning percentage is sixth best among active American League teams. The Royals are second at .568 (25-19).

Royals 7, Indians 1 - Stephanie Storm's final thoughts By Stephanie Storm Published: July 5, 2014

Before the Tribe broke through against him in the ninth inning, the only threat they posed came in the fourth. The Indians trailed just 1-0 and had runners at the corners with just one out. But Ventura promptly wiggled out of the jam with the aid of a double-play ball that halted the threat. 3) After being held to one hit on back-to-back night last week on the road, the Tribe’s offense continued to struggle Friday. And as good of a sign as it is for several players to be able to square up balls pretty well, the balls were shot right at defenders. “You can’t control it, really,” Bourn said. “It’s a part of baseball you can’t control. You just gotta take it one at bat at a time, square one up and hopefully, it’ll find a hole. But sometimes it doesn’t and tonight was one of those nights for us.” What Bourn should have made clear is that it was yet another tough night at the plate, as the team’s lack of production continues to spread throughout the lineup. “We’re not doing anything different, we just have to continue to swing at it,” Bourn said. “Just put it in play and keep trying to find some holes. It’ll come around, and when it does, it’ll start clicking and look good.” Until then, Bourn continues to keep a mental tally of hard hit balls shot right at defenders, who don’t even have to move to make the out. “When it’s like this, it’s like, ‘Man! I can count in my head how many balls as a team we’ve hit well, squared it up but have nothing to show for it. D Murph (David Murphy), to me, he swung the bat better than anybody today. He hit two balls that were missiles. Dudes didn’t have to move to feet to catch it. If (the Royals outfielders) had to move two inches this way or two inches that way, they don’t catch it. But so many of them tonight were right at them. All they had to do was (stick out their glove.)” Yet, Bourn knows trying to lift Murphy’s spirits by telling him to hang tough, won’t account for much. “The hardest thing is going up to him and being like, ‘Um…I don’t even know what to tell you.’ Because as a hitter, you don’t want to hear ‘good swing.’ He squared it up, but what can you say?” 4) The Royals first two runs were sparked by an unfamiliar face in rookie second baseman Christian Colon, who only in the lineup in the first place for his first career start after Omar Infante was a late scratch with lower back stiffness. But Colon made the most of his opportunity by going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI. Colon began the night with a triple to left center field that got his first big league hit out of the way before coming home to score on Lorenzo Cain’s single to right field. The pair hooked up once again in the fifth inning. In just his second at bat, Colon collected a one-out double and Cain once again drove him in – this time with a double of his own - that increased the Royals lead to 2-0. Before the night was over, Colon put his name in the Royals record book. He became only the second Kansas City rookie to collect three extra base hits in his first career start when he smacked a RBI double in the ninth inning off Tribe reliever John Axford that scored Moustakas. 5) Speaking of the former Tribe closer, it’s gotten to the point where he can’t even pitch well in games that are already out of hand, as his struggles continued Friday. Called on in the ninth inning to get some work in in a non-pressure late inning, Axford gave up two ninth-inning scores - but only one was earned after third basemanLonnie Chisenhall's throwing error. However, Axford’s wildness led to a passed ball, he also hit a batter and gave up two hits – all in a span of seven batters. 6) Moustakas might not be to the dangerous level that Tigers sluggers Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez pose, but his two-out, full-count three-run homer in the sixth inning not only ended Tomlin’s outing, but also put the game out of reach by increasing the Royals lead to 5-0 as he continued to feast on Tribe pitching. The homer was his ninth of the season - and fourth against the Indians. Akron Beacon Journal LOADED: 07.05.2014

Royals beat Indians 7-1; Josh Tomlin roughed up after last week’s gem By Stephanie Storm CLEVELAND: After flirting with a no-hitter last week in Seattle before settling for a career-best one-hitter, Indians starter Josh Tomlin struggled to even come close to repeating the feat Friday at a sold-out Progressive Field. The right-hander held the Mariners to a fifth-inning Kyle Seager single in his last start on the road, but was tagged for five runs on 10 hits in just Ҁ innings as the Indians lost 7-1 to the Royals in front of Cleveland’s third sellout of the season. Despite the double-digit hits, Tomlin kept the Royals in check by limiting the early damage to solo runs in the third and fifth innings. But in the sixth, he dished up a three-run homer to Mike Moustakas — a blast into the right-field bleachers that pushed the Royals’ advantage to five unanswered runs. Meanwhile, Kansas City phenom Yordano Ventura shut down the Tribe’s lineup until the ninth inning when Michael Brantley broke up a shutout bid with a leadoff homer to right field. Two batters later, a Jason Kipnis single sent Ventura to the showers with his complete-game bid snapped as well. For the first eight innings, Ventura dazzled, effortlessly popping the ball into catcher Salvador Perez’s mitt with pitches routinely in the upper 90s — including several reaching 100 mph. Before the Indians broke through in the ninth inning, the only threat they posed came in the fourth inning, trailing 1-0 with runners at the corners and one out. But Ventura wiggled out of the jam by inducing Kipnis to hit into an inning-ending double play that halted the threat. Rookie’s big night The Royals got their first two runs from rookie second baseman Christian Colon, making his first career start after Omar Infante was a late scratch with lower back stiffness. Yet, Colon made the most of the opportunity by going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI. Colon began his big night with a triple to left center field that notched his first big-league hit, soon scoring on Lorenzo Cain’s single to right field. The two hooked up again in the fifth inning when Colon collected a one-out double and Cain once again drove him in — this time with a double of his own that pushed the Royals lead to 2-0. But Moustakas’ two-out, full-count, three-run homer ended Tomlin’s outing and all but put the game away by increasing the visitors’ lead to 5-0 in the sixth. The homer was his ninth of the season and the fourth against the Indians. Before his memorable night was over, Colon put his name in the Kansas City record books. He became only the second Kansas City rookie to collect three extra-base hits in his first career start when he smacked a RBI double off reliever John Axford that scored Moustakas in the ninth inning. The former Tribe closer continued his struggles on the mound — regardless of the score — while the Royals piled on with two ninth- inning scores, but only one that was an earned run. Akron Beacon Journal LOADED: 07.05.2014

Tomlin can't repeat his 1-out magic in Indians 7-1 loss to Royals By Stephanie Storm Published: July 4, 2014 After flirting with a no-hitter last week in Seattle before settling for a career-best one-hitter, Indians starter Josh Tomlin struggled to even come close to repeating the feat Friday at a sold-out Progressive Field. The right-hander held the Mariners to a fifth-inning Kyle Seager single in his last start on the road, but was tagged for five runs on 10 hits in just 5 2/3 innings in the Indians 7-1 loss to the Royals in front of the Tribe’s third sell out of the season. "I didn't feel like I was fighting (control) that much," Tomlin said. "It's just I wanted to go in(side) a bit to try to get some guys off the cutter and I made a few mistakes.But I feel I made the right pitches for the most part. Despite the double-digit hits, Tomlin kept the Royals in check by limiting the early damage to solo runs in the third and fifth innings. But in the sixth, he dished up a three-run home run to slugging third baseman Mike Moustakas - a blast into the right field bleachers that pushed the Royals advantage to five unanswered runs. "When I gave up the big blow to Moustakas, it kind of took the wind out of us a little bit," Tomlin said. Meanwhile, Kansas City phenom Yordano Ventura kept the Tribe’s batsmen tied up in straight jackets up until the ninth inning, when Michael Brantley broke up the shutout bid with a lead off homer to right field. Two batters later, a Jason Kipnis single sent Ventura to the showers with his complete-game bid snapped as well. Asked why Ventura was so good, centerfielder Michael Bourn (who went 1-for-4 with a double) replied: "He throws a 100 (mph), first of all. But he also has a good change up and a good curveball. He’s a pitcher that you have to try to attack and get to early, before he settles in. We had a few chances, but for the most part, he was on tonight.” For the first eight innings, the youngster dazzled as he effortlessly popped the ball into catcher Salvador Perez's mitt with pitches routinely in the upper 90’s – including several reaching triple digits. Before the Tribe broke through in the ninth inning, the only threat they posed came in the fourth as they trailed just 1-0 and had runners at the corners with only one out. But Ventura promptly wiggled out of the jam by inducing Kipnis to hit into an inning-ending double play that halted the threat. The Royals first two runs were sparked by an unfamiliar face in rookie second baseman Christian Colon, who only made his first career start after Omar Infante was a late scratch with lower back stiffness. Yet, Colon made the most of the opportunity by going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI. Colon began his big night with a triple to left center field that notched his first big league hit, soon scoring on Lorenzo Cain's single to right field. The pair hooked up again in the fifth inning when Colon collected a one-out double and Cain once again drove him in – this time with a double of his own that pushed the Royals lead to 2-0. But Moustakas’s two-out, full-count three-run homer ended Tomlin’s outing and all but put the game away by increasing the visitor’s lead to 5-0 in the sixth as Moustakas contiuned to feast on Tribe pitching. The homer was his ninth of the season and the fourth against the Indians. Before his memorable night was over, Colon put his name in the Royals record book. He became only the second Kansas City rookie to collect three extra base hits in his first career start when he smacked a RBI double in the ninth inning off Tribe reliever John Axford that scored Moustakas. The former Tribe closer continued his struggles on the mound – regardless of the score – while the Royals piled on with two ninth- inning scores, but only one that was earned after third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall's throwing error. Akron Beacon Journal LOADED: 07.05.2014

Indians’ Swisher hopes to claim Feller Act of Valor Award after missing out last year By Stephanie Storm CLEVELAND: Nick Swisher thought he had the award locked up last season. This year, his hopes are set on it again. The Indians first baseman wasn’t talking about a coveted baseball feat, but instead an important humanitarian award that would recognize his and wife Joanna’s visit to U.S. military stationed in Afghanistan three years ago. Swisher learned Wednesday he’s once again one of 11 finalists for the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award. Two days later — in typical animated Swisher style — he excitedly shared why winning the award would mean so much to him. “I had thought I had it last year being a Cleveland guy and all,” he said. “But either way, anytime your name is in the same sentence as Bob Feller’s — and everything he stood for and did for the game — it’s an honor.” Swisher was named a finalist as a nod to the 2011 trip in which he and his wife spent Thanksgiving with military personnel in Afghanistan in 2011. When I'm riding outside, I wear all the gear, including a helmet. If you're going to ride on the road and you're afraid of cars, you can't ride. In the

Metroparks, at least, you have bike lanes. What you have to do is respect the car's space. I carry a whistle. It's a police whistle with a high pitch.

When you blow it, the drivers make eye contact with you and that's good. It's like almost having a horn.

Cleveland Indians notes: Corey Kluber will likely garner All-Star consideration

By Jim Ingraham, The News-Herald & The Morning Journal The rosters for the All-Star game will be announced July 6, and while it seems a virtual certainty Indians outfielder Michael Brantley will be selected, the Indians could have a second representative. Tribe pitcher Corey Kluber should get strong consideration for a spot on the American League staff. In 18 starts Kluber is 7-6 with a 2.99 ERA, and in 117 1/3 innings he has nearly 100 more strikeouts (127) than walks (29). At the start of play July 4, Kluber, among all American League pitchers, ranked fifth in strikeouts per nine innings (9.7), sixth in innings pitched, sixth in strikeouts and 10th in ERA. In May, Kluber was probably the best pitcher in the league. In six starts that month, he was 4-0 with a 2.09 ERA while holding opposing batters to a .217 batting average. In 43 innings in May, Kluber had 60 strikeouts and just seven unintentional walks. Kluber’s outstanding first half is beginning to draw notice from the national media. Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com recently made his selections for the All-Star rosters, and he included Kluber on the AL staff. Asked if he thought Kluber deserved a spot on the AL All-Star team, Indians manager Terry Francona said, “I don’t know. It don’t want to single out one guy. I will say that John Farrell (American League manager) reached out to me, and I gave him my opinion on Kluber.” Kluber’s outstanding first half seems to be a continuation from his 2013 season. In 34 starts since June 11 of last year, Kluber is 15-7 with a 3.89 ERA. “Last year he was on a roll until he hurt his finger,” Francona said. “But this year he’s taken it to a new level. He’s been very consistent, and he’s been doing it for a long period of time — that’s when people start to notice you.” Man of steal In addition to all his other All-Star worthy statistics, Brantley is 10-for-10 in stolen-base attempts this season. Brantley is tied with Oakland’s Craig Gentry (15-for-15) and Mike Trout (10-for-10) for the league lead in stolen-base percentage. “The percentage is more important than the amount of steals,” Francona said. “Michael steals bases at big times during games, and he’s always safe. He’s a very intelligent base stealer.” Brantley’s stolen-base percentage has risen dramatically in the last three years. In 2012 it was 57 percent (12-for-21), in 2013 it was 81 percent (17-for-21) and this year he’s at 100 percent (10-for-10). Notes Artifacts from Lonnie Chisenhall’s historic performance at Texas on June 9, when he was 5-for-5 with three home runs and a club record nine RBI, will be on display July 5 in Heritage Park. Chisenhall’s jersey, spikes, the bat he used in all five at-bats, and the third home run ball will be on display from 4:30 p.m. through the bottom of the third inning. ... Entering the game July 4, Indians starting pitchers had a 2.27 ERA over the last seven games. ... Also entering the game, the Indians’ all-time record on the Fourth of July was 88-74 (.543). ... July 5 at 7:05 p.m., T.J. House (0-2, 4.54) will face Jeremy Guthrie (5-6, 3.69).

Jim Ingraham: Lou Gehrig's transcendent speech still resonates

By Jim Ingraham, The News-Herald & The Morning Journal Contrary to popular belief, the most famous line of the speech wasn’t the last one. “Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth” was actually the second of the 18 sentences spoken by Lou Gehrig 75 years ago, in the most famous speech in sports history and one of the most famous speeches in the history of the country. For that, blame Hollywood, which felt the money quote from Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech should be the last sentence, even if it wasn’t the last sentence in real time. So Gary Cooper, in the starring role, used it as his walkoff line in the cinematic version of Gehrig’s transcendent speech at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939. The rest is juxtaposed history. The Yankees played Washington in a doubleheader that day. The Gehrig ceremonies were held between games. According to Baseball- Reference.com, the attendance was 41,808, which would be about 30,000 under the Yankee Stadium capacity. Gehrig, who was suffering from the disease that would eventually kill him two years later, played his last game for the Yankees on April 30, 1939.He went 0-for-4 that day, dropping the 1939 batting average of the man with a .340 career average to .143. The next day, he told Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy he could no longer play, ending his consecutive games played streak at 2,130, a record that stood until Cal Ripken Jr. broke it in 1998. Gehrig needed help walking out onto the field for the between-game ceremonies on July 4, 1939. According to “Luckiest Man,” Jonathan Eig’s terrific book on Gehrig, McCarthy was afraid Gehrig might collapse and asked Yankee Babe Dahlgren to be prepared to catch Gehrig if that happened. “Throughout the ceremony,” Eig writes, “Gehrig looked as if he couldn’t wait to get it over with. He twisted his baseball cap in his hands. He pawed at the dirt with his cleats. He removed a big white handkerchief from his back pocket and wiped his tears.” Gehrig didn’t want to speak that day, despite the fact he had written an outline of his remarks in preparation for the occasion, but never rehearsed it. In the video of the speech, Gehrig does not have any notes or papers in his hand. So he spoke extemporaneously, probably recalling parts from his outline. Given the circumstances — he knew he was dying, all the fans and players knew it, he was speaking without notes — the eloquence of Gehrig’s speech is remarkable. It’s the most famous speech in the history of sports — and there is no runner-up. Football and basketball have no such moments like this. No such speeches. The most famous line of Gehrig’s is one of the most famous lines from any speech, anywhere. That it was spoken by a shy, humble, heroic man, speaking virtually impromptu, knowing what he knew about his deteriorating health, makes its celebration 75 years later by Major League Baseball all the more fitting: “Fans, for the past two weeks, you have been reading about a bad break I got. Yet today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. I have been in ballparks for 17 years, and I have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans. “Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn’t consider it the highlight of his career to just associate with them for even one day? Sure, I’m lucky. “Who wouldn’t consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also the builder of baseball’s greatest empire, Ed Barrow. To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins. Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I’m lucky. “When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift — that’s something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in the white coats remember you with trophies — that’s something. “When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter — that’s something. When you have a father and mother who work all their lives so that you can have an education and build your body — that’s a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed — that’s the finest I know. “So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for. Thank you.”

Cleveland Indians drop another game before big home crowd

By Jim Ingraham, The News-Herald & The Morning Journal So what is it? Stage fright? Big crowds are big trouble for the Indians at home, and it happened again July 4, in front of an announced sellout of 39,020 fireworks aficionados at Progressive Field, as the Indians were flattened, 7-1, by the Kansas City Royals. The Indians are last in the major leagues in total attendance and last in average attendance. They average 16,842 per home game. However, their last four home dates have included two sellouts and two other crowds of 26,023 and 33,545. Playing in front of four of their five biggest crowds of the season, the Indians lost all four games, including the loss to the Royals on July 4, in which the Indians were held to six hits. The Indians’ only run came on a ninth-inning home run by Michael Brantley off Royals starter Yordano Ventura (6-7). Tribe starter Josh Tomlin, who threw 111 pitches in his one-hit 5-0 shutout over Seattle in his last start, threw 107 pitches in just 52/3 innings in his 10-hit 7-1 loss to the Royals. The last of the 10 hits was the one that did the most damage. With the Indians trailing, 2-0, in the top of the sixth inning, Tomlin (5-6) gave up singles to Salvador Perez and Alcides Escobar. Mike Moustakas then blasted a 3-2 pitch over the right-field wall for a three-run homer that gave Kansas City a 5-0 lead. It was the fourth home run by Moustakas in 23 at-bats vs. the Indians this year. He has five home runs in 195 at-bats against everyone else. “The home run really took the wind out of our sails, and that’s on me,” Tomlin said. “When you make a mistake and it’s a three-run homer, that’s really deflating to the team.” The home run by Moustakas came on Tomlin’s last pitch of the game. In 5 2/3 innings he struck out six and didn’t walk a batter, but those 10 hits and five runs were too much for the Indians’ slumbering offense to overcome. “Josh threw better than his linescore looks,” Tribe manager Terry Francona said. “The three-run homer hurt him, but up until then he kept it manageable.” The Indians fell behind, 2-0, after five innings, thanks mainly to a Kansas City infielder who wasn’t even supposed to be in the starting lineup. That would be second baseman Christian Colon, selected by the Royals with the fourth overall pick in the 2010 June draft, right after the Orioles took Manny Machado at No. 3 and right before the Indians took Drew Pomeranz at No. 5. Colon was not in Kansas City’s original starting lineup, but when Omar Infante came down with a case of lower back stiffness shortly before the start of the game, Colon was inserted into the lineup in place of Infante at second base. So, naturally, Colon belts two doubles and a triple and scores three runs. In his first two at-bats, Colon tripled and scored and doubled and scored as the Royals took a 2-0 lead after five innings. “Two to nothing is not where we want to be, but Josh (Tomlin) gave us a fighting chance,” Francona said. The Indians, meanwhile, could do little with Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura, who held the Tribe scoreless on two hits through the first five innings. The two hits both came in the fourth inning, when the Tribe had runners at first and third with one out when Jason Kipnis grounded into an inning-ending double play. “His stuff is electric,” Francona said of Ventura. “He’s throwing 98, 99, 100 (mph), with a good changeup. It’s not just us that has trouble with him. He’s pretty good. And then when they spread it out (on the Moustakas homer), it got a lot more difficult.” Kansas City scored two more runs in the ninth off Tribe reliever John Axford, one on an error by third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall, the Indians’ major league-leading 72nd error of the season.

Clippers 5, Mud Hens 3: First-inning outburst just enough for Clippers By Jim Massie The Fourth of July in Huntington Park began with a pregame salute to military veterans that included a half-dozen sky divers descending in breathtaking fashion onto the outfield grass and promised fireworks after nine innings.

In between, the Clippers and Toledo Mud Hens entertained the standing-room crowd of 10,529. Columbus jumped to an early lead and won 5-3 behind a two-hit, three-RBI game from Roberto Perez.

“I think it was great just as far as the electricity in the stands,” Clippers manager Chris Tremie said. “It was a phenomenal crowd out there. So it was really a fun game, even though I didn’t get to see it.”

Tremie and left fielder Justin Sellers were ejected at the end of the first inning by first-base umpire Brian deBrauwere following a double play.

“It was a close play at first,” Tremie said. “From my understanding, (Sellers’) helmet hit the ground hard. The umpire made a decision.”

The Clippers already had started quickly against Toledo starter Duane Below (6-3). Tyler Holt led off the first with a single and went to second on an Elliot Johnson sacrifice bunt. Holt stole third base ahead of an RBI single by Jesus Aguilar. Giovanny Urshela moved Aguilar to third with a double, and Perez followed with a two-run single.

Audy Ciriciaco continued the rally with a double that pushed Perez to third base. Carlos Moncrief then singled off the glove of third baseman Wade Gaynor to score Perez with the fourth Columbus run.

Below walked Ryan Rohlinger to load the bases and looked like a base hit away from an early exit. Instead, Sellers hit into the double play that created some human fireworks.

“I didn’t say anything to him,” said Sellers, who did spike his helmet. “I was frustrated that I hit into a double play. I wasn’t mad that he called me out. When I threw my helmet down, that wasn’t on him at all. But we won. That’s all that matters.”

Given the 4-0 lead, Clippers starter Toru Murata ran into trouble in the second. Jordan Lennerton singled and scored on a James McCann double. With one out, Gaynor doubled home McCann to make it 4-2.

Murata struck out Danny Worth, but Ezequiel Carrera singled to drive in McCann and cut the deficit to 4-3.

The early offense didn’t continue. The Clippers would score one more run on an RBI double by Perez in the fifth inning.

The bullpens for both teams allowed no more runs. Nick Hagadone pitched a scoreless fifth. Tyler Sturdevant (1-0) followed and struck out the side in the sixth and worked a 1-2-3 seventh. Adams pitched a perfect eighth and ninth for Columbus to get the save.

Banwart leaves to join team in South Korea Scheduled Clippers starter Travis Banwart left the team yesterday. He is going to the Korea Baseball Organization to join the SK Wyverns team in Incheon, South Korea.

Clippers: Banwart headed to South Korea By: Jim MassieThe Columbus Dispatch - July 04, 2014 05:17 PM Clippers pitcher Travis Banwart left the team today. He is headed to Incheon, South Korea, where he will pitch for the SK Wyverns in the Korea Baseball Organization.

"It's been ongoing for a week or so," Columbus manager Chris Tremie said. "We wish him all the luck in the world. He was a great teammate and a valuable starter for us."

Banwart, 28, posted a 5-2 record with a 3.16 in 16 starts this season for the Clippers. He was the International League pitcher of the week last week.

The Cleveland Indians signed him to a minor-league contract on Dec. 13, 2013. He spent the first seven years of his career in the Oakland organization.

Right-hander Toru Murata came up from double-A Akron today to take Banwart's 7:15 p.m. start against the Toledo Mud Hens .

Nori Aoki unsure when he’ll start rehab assignment to rejoin Royals

By ANDY McCULLOUGH 07/04/2014 5:35 PM

After conducting a workout on Friday at Progressive Field, Royals outfielder Nori Aoki sounded encouraged about the status of his injured groin muscle. But he remains unsure about when he can undertake a rehabilitation assignment, the final step in his return to the major-league roster. Aoki tested his legs while running to catch fly balls a couple hours before his teammates opened a three-game set with the Indians. Aoki has been steadily increasing his workload as he tries to recover. "It’s still day to day," Aoki said through his interpreter, Kosuke Inaji. "We haven’t really determined when [the rehab assignment starts]. But today, just being able to not feel anything today, mentally, it’s a big step for me." Aoki is eligible to come off the disabled list on Sunday. The team does not expect him to play during the subsequent three games against the Rays at Tropicana Field. Asked if Aoki would return before the All Star break, both general manager Dayton Moore and manager Ned Yost had the same answer: "I don’t know." Yost relied on his default response on injuries when he indicated "we’re kind of going day to day with it." Moore offered a more elaborate response. "I think it could happen any day," Moore said. "But when you’re dealing with leg injuries, they’re unpredictable. He still has a few more progressions [of rehab] that he has to go through before we send him out." When Aoki returns, the Royals face a roster crunch. The addition of Raul Ibanez gives the team five outfielders. Meanwhile, Aoki is not rushing to come back too soon. "I don’t want to come back and re-injure it again, and not be able to contribute to the team," he said. "I just want to be able to come back 100 percent." Infante scratche; Colon starts Christian Colon got the first big-league start of his career on Friday night, after the Royals scratched second baseman Omar Infante because of tightness in his lower back. Infante missed 17 games in May with a disk injury in his lower back. Colon, the team’s No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft, received his call up to the majors on Monday. Ibanez may DH soon With Billy Butler stuck in a slump, Yost is contemplating starting Raul Ibanez at designated hitter on Sunday. Yost already plans to start Jarrod Dyson in the outfield for the final two games of this series. The decision at DH will be made over the coming days. Butler entered Friday’s game caught in another slump. After surging for most of June, he was batting .234 with a .549 on-base plus slugging percentage in his previous 12 games. "Let’s see how he does the next day or two," Yost said. The Kansas City Star LOADED: 07.05.2014

Christian Colon, Mike Moustakas back Yordano Ventura in Royals’ 7-1 victory over Cleveland By ANDY McCULLOUGH Christian Colon heard the news around 5:45 p.m., a few hours before Friday’s 7-1 Royals’ victory. He was walking off the field after scooping groundballs before the game when Royals manager Ned Yost pulled him aside. Colon, Yost explained, would start at second base. When Omar Infante suffered a recurrence of tightness in his lower back, the team scratched him and inserted Colon into the lineup. To prevent his heart from leaping out of his chest, Colon reminded himself to enjoy this moment. He would only make the first start of his major-league career once. “The main thing was just go and enjoy the moment,” Colon said. “Soak it up. Let’s see what happens.” He could not have asked for more. Colon catalyzed the Royals (45-40) offense with a triple in his first at-bat, a double in his second and an RBI double in his last time up. He scored twice on singles by Lorenzo Cain. The Royals selected Colon with the fourth pick in the 2010 draft. For so much of his career, he has been tied with the players chosen after him on that day, like White Sox ace Chris Sale or Mets starter Matt Harvey. Colon profiles as a utility man in the majors. But on his first full night in the majors, he made a bid to be something more. To add to Colon’s sterling production, Mike Moustakas boomed a three-run shot to provide a healthy cushion for starter Yordano Ventura, and bolster the team’s fourth win in five games. Ventura limited Cleveland to six hits across 8 1/3 innings. He relied on a combination of weak contact and stingy defense. When the Indians struck line drives, the Royals defenders ensnared them. A solo home run by Michael Brantley spoiled Ventura’s bid for a shutout, but Ventura still awed those in his dugout. “He was extraordinary,” Yost said. Colon’s tour of duty might extend past Friday. Infante missed 17 games with back trouble in May. And Colon catalyzed an otherwise sluggish lineup until Moustakas broke through in the sixth. “That was a huge, huge home run,” Yost said. “Gave us a lot of breathing room.” The blast allowed Yost to extend Ventura’s night. In the middle of his first full season in the majors, Ventura has shown little sign of fatigue. He authored an excellent June, with an ERA of 2.90, and began July on an even better note. “He felt like he was pitching in and out,” said Bruce Chen, who translates for Ventura. “Then taking some off, and adding some to his pitches. That was how he was able to go deep in the game.” His teammates afforded him an early lead. The second pitch Colon saw was a 90-mph fastball. Indians starter Josh Tomlin spotted it on the outer half of the plate in the third inning. Colon slashed the ball past center fielder Michael Bourn, and he raced into third base. Cain brought Colon home by looping a single into right. Ventura bulldozed the Indians for the first three innings. He induced a bevvy of groundballs, fanned Jason Kipnis with a 100-mph fastball and kept his opponents hitless. An outburst of Cleveland offense in the fourth afforded Ventura another opportunity to shine. After a pair of one-out singles placed runners at the corners, Kipnis stepped in once again. Ventura whipped an 98-mph fastball. The pitch hovered over the middle at the knees. Kipnis tapped a grounder to Colon, who ignited an inning-ending double play. “He’s got such electric stuff,” Moustakas said. “All of his pitches are disgusting. When he’s able to command and control like he did today, it shows a lot to how he’s grown up as a pitcher.” Colon continued to hector Tomlin in the fifth. He fell behind, 0-2, but still yanked a fastball on the hands into the left-field corner for a double. In the next at-bat, Cain splashed a double into the same area for his second RBI of the game. Moustakas allowed Ventura more room to breathe. Ventura took advantage. In the eighth inning, his fastball still sizzled in the triple digits. Indians catcher Yan Gomes flailed at a 100-mph heater for Ventura’s fourth strikeout of the evening. On his 101st pitch, Ventura yielded his first extra-base hit to Cleveland. It was a double for Bourn. The subsequent at-bat was more representative of the night. Asdrubal Cabrera lifted a meek fly to right field, and Ventura stomped into his dugout with his ledger still spotless. In the aftermath, Colon could not say the same about his gear. His teammates soaked him with water and doused him with shaving cream, as they do so often for the man they deem player of the game. It was a fitting end to the first start of his career. “That was a lot of fun,” Colon said. “I’m so happy that I’m with this group of guys. We had a great time. And that’s what I told myself: Just go out there, enjoy it, and try to help.” The Kansas City Star LOADED: 07.05.2014