June 27, 200322 yr c/o espn.com CLEVELAND (AP) -- Resurgent right-hander Jose Lima pitched seven strong innings and the Kansas City Royals beat the Cleveland Indians 4-1 Thursday night for a three-game sweep. The Royals retained first place in the AL Central, but did so with leading hitter Mike Sweeney back home in Kansas City. The first baseman was placed on the 15-day disabled list before the game with tightness in his upper back. Rookie Aaron Guiel helped fill the void by hitting a two-run homer and scoring twice as the Royals improved to 24-6 within their division. They won for the 10th time in 13 games overall. Lima (2-0) beat the Indians for the first time. He had been 0-5 with a 10.55 ERA in seven appearances, including four starts, against Cleveland. The 30-year-old right-hander allowed five hits and one run in his third start since being signed June 11. He had gone 6-1 with a 2.33 ERA for the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League before that. Les Walrond, recalled before the game from Triple-A Omaha, pitched the eighth and Mike MacDougal worked the ninth for his 19th save in 24 chances. The Indians loaded the bases with none out in the fourth, but did not score. Jody Gerut singled and went to third on a double off the wall in left by Milton Bradley. Ben Broussard then walked. But Casey Blake popped weakly to right and Josh Bard hit a similar pop to center -- and neither were deep enough to score Gerut. When John McDonald grounded back to Lima, the restless fans booed. That made the Indians 2-for-23 with runners in scoring position in the series and gave Cleveland a .211 average (12-for-57) with the bases loaded this season. Kansas City scored in the first off Ricardo Rodriguez (3-8), who was activated off the disabled list before the game. Rodriguez hit the first batter he faced, Guiel, who advanced on a one-out single by Carlos Beltran and scored on a single by Raul Ibanez. Guiel followed a two-out single by Carlos Febles in the fifth, by hitting a 2-2 pitch over the wall in right-center for his second homer and a 3-0 lead. A sacrifice fly by McDonald made it 3-1 in the Indians' seventh. A run-scoring single by Michael Tucker off reliever Jason Boyd in the eighth made it 4-1. Rodriguez gave up three runs and five hits over six innings in his first outing since leaving a June 8 start in Arizona with a strained right triceps. The right-hander struck out four without issuing a walk as the Indians dropped to 1-8 against Kansas City this season and lost for the fifth time in six games overall. Game notes Cleveland fell to 6-27 against teams with .500 records or above. ... The Indians' season-high homerless streak reached six games. ... Indians OF Matt Lawton was booed after striking out on a pitch that went to the backstop to end the third. Instead of running to first base, he walked toward his position in left field, slowly taking off his batting gloves as Royals C Brent Mayne recovered the ball and threw to first to complete the putout. ... The Royals are 6-1 this season at Jacobs Field. The six wins are their most ever in one season in Cleveland.
June 27, 200322 yr Ok... Hernandez is going to be their ace, Lima is not it... He is a quick fix who now will get his chance to stay with a team.
July 3, 200322 yr It would have being niced if the marlins would have signed him and then traded Penny. Would have increase the the talent level and and also are dumping $$$.
July 18, 200322 yr 6-0 now... This man is a baller and a steal...! Too bad he got injured. For the Royals sake, I hope he comes back healthy. I really want that team to win.
July 19, 200322 yr 6-0! Man he's back. I hope he keeps it up when he's healthy again. When did he get hurt?
July 19, 200322 yr Author 6-0! Man he's back. I hope he keeps it up when he's healthy again. When did he get hurt? last night. pulled groin dont know how long he is out and i think he is 5-0
July 19, 200322 yr Thank god! My Twins needed him to get out! He was just killing us! Now we have a shot to get back up there.
July 19, 200322 yr last night. pulled groin dont know how long he is out and i think he is 5-0 he's 6-0 now
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