When: Friday through Sunday.

Where: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.

TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio all games; WKYC, Ch. 3 Friday; WTAM AM/1100.

Series: Indians lead, 10-5, this season. They lead, 293-277, all-time.

Pitching matchups: Indians RHP Justin Masterson (10-8, 2.83 ERA) vs. LHP Bruce Chen (10-5, 3.94), Friday at 8:10; LHP David Huff (2-2, 2.08) vs. RHP Luke Hochevar (9-10, 4.97), Saturday at 7:10 p.m.; RHP Jeanmar Gomez (1-2, 4.55) vs. LHP Jeff Francis (5-14, 4.64), Sunday at 2:10 p.m.

Indians update: They are 29-36 on road, including 4-2 at Kauffman Stadium. … Masterson ranks among American League leaders in ERA. … Among Indians who have performed well against Kansas City this season: 3B Jack Hannahan (15-for-43, two homers, 13 RBI); SS Asdrubal Cabrera (20-for-62, two homers, seven RBI); and reliever Joe Smith (2-0, 4 2/3 scoreless innings).

Royals update: They have lost at least 10 games in the season series for eight straight years. … Chen is 2-0 against Indians this season and 5-0 since joining Royals in 2009. He gave up one run on five hits in 7 1/3 innings last Sunday in a 2-1 victory over Masterson at Progressive Field. … Among Royals who have performed well against Cleveland this season: LF Alex Gordon (18-for-59, three homers, 11 RBI); CF Melky Cabrera (20-for-61, two homers, 13 RBI); and RF Jeff Francoeur (17-for-54, three homers, eight RBI). All three have been good defensively — notably, Gordon.

Injuries: Indians — RF Shin-Soo Choo (left oblique), OF Trevor Crowe (right shoulder), CF Grady Sizemore (right knee), RHP Carlos Carrasco (elbow), RHP Josh Tomlin (elbow), DH Travis Hafner (right foot) and 2B Jason Kipnis (right hamstring) are on disabled list. OF Michael Brantley (right hand) is out for season. Royals — RHP Felipe Paulino (back) is day-to-day. C Jason Kendall (shoulder) is out for season.

Next for Indians: Three-game series against Detroit begins Monday at Progressive Field.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Indians third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall suffered a non-displaced sinus fracture underneath the right cheekbone after being hit by a pitch Thursday night, Tribe head trainer Lonnie Soloff said Friday afternoon.

Chisenhall is listed as day to day. The injury is expected to take 4-6 weeks to heal, but Chisenhall can play as soon as swelling around the right eye sufficiently subsides. Surgery is not required.

Blue Jays right-hander Carlos Villanueva beaned the left-handed Chisenhall in the second inning of the Tribe’s 5-4 victory. The ball caromed off the helmet’s earflap and shot across the cheek and nose. Chisenhall was replaced by Jack Hannahan.

Given what can happen when a player gets drilled in the head/face with a pitch, the Indians consider themselves fortunate. Chisenhall has shown no signs or symptoms of a concussion, and his eyes checked out fine.

While playing for Class AAA Columbus in June, Chisenhall suffered a concussion during a head-first slide.

“We’re very relieved, considering that the kid had a concussion not too long ago, and that he was hit in the face,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “If he doesn’t make an appearance in the next three days, we should be able to have him for the start of the second half.”

The Indians conclude the pre-All-Star Game portion of the schedule Sunday against the Blue Jays. They begin the “second half” next Thursday in Baltimore.

Chisenhall, or his helmet, likely will be fitted with a mask or protective device until the fracture heals. He wore sunglasses while seated on a clubhouse couch in the afternoon. He was not made available to reporters.

“It looks like Lonnie’s gone a couple rounds with Mike Tyson, or the boxer of the day, but otherwise, he’s fine,” Soloff said. “It’s going to be a couple, three days — and that’s a positive for us, and for him. This is good news. Very good news.”

Chisenhall, Cleveland’s first-round pick in 2008, was promoted from Columbus on June 27. He is hitting .267 with one homer and two RBI in nine games.

Hannahan started at third Friday against Toronto lefty Jo-Jo Reyes. Hannahan, a left-handed batter, entered hitting .309 against lefties, .184 against righties and .216 overall.

Roster shuffle: The Indians officially recalled infielder Luis Valbuena from Columbus on Friday and optioned right-hander Zach McAllister to Columbus. Acta had announced to moves Thursday night after McAllister made his major-league debut.

Valbuena, 25, is hitting .313 (87-for-278) with 19 doubles, 12 homers, 48 runs and 56 RBI in 77 games for the Clippers. He is an International League All-Star.

He hit .361 (35-for-97) in June and is hitting .336 (44-for-131) with runners on base and .346 (27-for-78) with runners in scoring position. He has appeared in 46 games at shortstop, 11 games at both third base and left field and five games at second.

“Luis’ role is backup utility infielder,” Acta said. “That’s what [Cord] Phelps was doing here at the end, and we felt Phelps needed to go down to get every-day at-bats. Luis is going to play second when we need to give Orlando [Cabrera] a day off, some third base when need be, and short if he has to.”

Valbuena was with the Tribe on May 19-20 but did not play.

Valbuena was solid for the Indians in 2009, hitting .250 with 38 extra-base hits in 103 games. But he dropped his compass in the woods last year, hitting .193 in 91 games.

“I’m so happy for another opportunity,” Valbuena said. “I’m ready to do anything they want.”

Haf full: Some batters get tight or try too hard with the bases loaded. Travis Hafner? He becomes Zen master Pronk.

According to baseball-reference.com, Hafner’s highest career average in any situation with runners on has come with the bases loaded. He entered Friday at .322 (29-for-90) with 12 homers and 108 RBI in 111 plate appearances. His slugging percentage was .822.

Hafner’s most recent slam occurred Thursday night in the ninth inning against the Blue Jays, enabling the Indians to secure the 5-4 victory. The previous Indian to hit a walk-off slam with the team trailing by three was Ron Lolich on April 22, 1973. Hafner joined Carlos Santana as Indians with walk-off slams this season; the last time the club did so twice in one year was 2002 (Bill Selby, Jim Thome).

On July 14, 2002, Selby took Yankees closer Mariano Rivera deep. He capped a six-run ninth as the Indians prevailed, 10-7.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dmanoloff@plaind.com, 216-999-4664

On Twitter: @dmansworldpd

Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers celebrates with Josh Hamilton after Hamilton’s three run home run during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field in Ohio. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Alexi Ogando won his sixth game without a loss, Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz homered in a five-run seventh inning and the Texas Rangers routed the Cleveland Indians 11-2 Friday night.

Ogando (6-0) held the Indians to one run and four hits in eight innings. He has allowed two runs or fewer in nine of his 11 starts while pitching at least six innings in each outing.

The victory continued the Rangers’ dominance of the Indians over the last three seasons. Texas has beaten Cleveland 14 times in the last 17 games between the teams and has won nine of 10 games at Progressive Field. The Rangers have won nine of 12 overall and are 14-8 since May 10.

The Indians have the best record in the American League, but are 13-14 since May 3 and have lost four straight at home.

Red Sox 8, Athletics 6

BOSTON — Carl Crawford blooped a go-ahead, two-run single to center field in the seventh inning and the Boston Red Sox ended a four-game losing streak with an 8-6 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Friday night.

Boston rallied from a 4-0 deficit in the first and were trailing 6-5 when lefty Brian Fuentes came in to face lefty Crawford, who came through with a broken-bat hit just beyond second base.

Joey Devine (0-1) loaded the bases in the seventh on a double by Adrian Gonzalez and then he hit Kevin Youkilis and walked David Ortiz.

Bobby Jenks (2-2) got the win and Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth for his 11th save.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia had a solo homer, his fifth, for the Red Sox in the eighth.

Twins 5, Royals 2

KANSAS CITY — Carl Pavano picked up his 100th career victory and Michael Cuddyer homered as the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 5-2 Friday night.

Pavano (3-5), who was 0-3 with a 5.28 ERA in six May starts, won for the first time since April 24. He held the Royals to two runs and eight hits in his first complete game since Sept. 10, 2010, after throwing seven complete games last year. He threw 83 strikes in 112 pitches.

Cuddyer homered off Royals rookie left-hander Danny Duffy in the third. It was Cuddyer’s 18th career home run against the Royals.

White Sox 6, Tigers 4

CHICAGO — Carlos Quentin hit a three-run homer and Brent Lillibridge added a solo shot to help the Chicago White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 6-4 on Friday night.

The White Sox ended a nine-game losing steak against the Tigers and won four straight games for the first time this season. Chicago, which trailed the Cleveland Indians by 11 games in the AL Central on May 7, are now within seven games.

White Sox starter Mark Buehrle (5-4) pitched six effective innings. He allowed three runs while giving up 10 hits, striking out four with just one walk.

Mariners 7, Rays 0

SEATTLE — Jason Vargas tossed a four-hitter for the first shutout of his career, and Adam Kennedy and Miguel Olivo hit back-to-back homers as the Seattle Mariners roughed up Tampa Bay pitching for the second straight night, 7-0 on Friday.

Vargas (4-3) rolled through the Rays, bouncing back from two straight poor starts where he failed to get beyond the fifth in either. It was the second complete game of his career and first since Aug. 21, 2005, when he was a prospect with Florida.

Andy Sonnanstine (0-2) was already trailing 4-0 when Kennedy and Olivo both hit their fifth homer of the season two pitches apart. It was the second time this year Seattle has hit consecutive blasts.

Justin Smoak homered in the first inning for Seattle, his 10th of the season.

Angels 3, Yankees 2

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jered Weaver tied for the AL lead with his seventh victory — 39 days after getting his sixth one — and No. 9 hitter Peter Bourjos singled home the go-ahead run for the Los Angeles Angels in a 3-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Friday night.

Weaver (7-4) allowed two runs, three hits and four walks over seven innings and struck out eight to help end the Yankees’ four-game winning streak.

Weaver won his first six starts of the season with a 0.99 ERA, and was 0-4 with a 3.38 ERA over his next six outings after beating Oakland 5-0 for his fifth career shutout. In the right-hander’s previous start last Saturday, he threw a career-high 128 pitches at Minnesota and allowed just two hits — ending up with a no-decision in the Angels’ 1-0 loss.

Published: Friday, March 11, 2011, 4:03 PM     Updated: Friday, March 11, 2011, 4:31 PM

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Seattle scored twice in the second inning and led Mitch Talbot and the Indians, 4-2, Friday after four innings at Goodyear Ballpark. 

Matt Tuiasosopo started the one-out rally with a single to right. Michael Saunders followed with a single to put runners on first and second. Dustin Ackley blooped a single into left field to score Tuiasosopo. Austin Kearns tried to throw out Saunders at third, but just missed him as Ackley went to second. 

Chris Gimenez’s bouncer to third made it 2-0. Gimenez was with the Indians last year. 

The Indians made it 2-1 in the second against Michael Pineda. Travis Hafner started the inning with a long double to left center. Jack Hannahan delivered him with a double to right center with two out.

The Mariners made it 3-1 on Jack Cust’s RBI single in the third. Luis Rodriguez, who reaced second on Orlando Cabrera’s error, scored the unearned run.

Asdrubal Cabrera made it 3-2 with a leadoff homer in the third.

Seattle pushed its lead to 4-2 on Josh Wilson’s sacrifice fly in the fourth.

Talbot allowed three runs on five hits in three innings. He struck out two and walked one.   

 

 

Published: Friday, March 11, 2011, 12:19 PM     Updated: Friday, March 11, 2011, 3:33 PM

Goodyear, Ariz. — This is a daily briefing on the Cleveland Indians in spring training as they prepare for the 2011 season.

 March 11, Day 25: Nick Johnson walked in the Indians clubhouse Friday morning sporting a beard, wearing wind pants and a brace on his right wrist.

 ”I just got the stitches taken out today,” said Johnson, who signed a minor league deal with the Indians that will pay him $750,000 if he makes the big leagues. There’s a July 1 out clause in Johnson’s contract and that should give the Indians plenty of time to figure out if he can help them.

 They hold a $2.75 million club option on him for 2012.

 ”There’s no timetable,” said Johnson. “I’ve got to get the range of motion back and the stiffness out and progress from there. When it feels good, I’ll start swinging.”

 Johnson has had four surgeries on his right wrist, three within the last year. In his latest surgery, performed by Dr. Thomas Graham at Cleveland Clinic, he had a tendon removed that had been causing him pain when he swung.

 ”He took the tendon out and hopefully there’s no more pain in the wrist,” said Johnson.

 There are five main tendon’s in the wrist. Dr. Graham told Johnson he can still swing the bat effectively with four.

 ”I’m just looking forward to where I can work, prepare and swing without pain,” said Johnson.

 Johnson, 32, is a .270 (705-for-2,611) career hitter with 421 runs, 169 doubles, 91 homers, 387 RBI and .401 on base percentage. He played only 24 games last season with the Yankees. His last healthy year was 2009 when he hit .291 (133-for-457) with 71 runs, 24 doubles, eight homers and 62 RBI for Washington and Florida.

 ”They wanted me here and I’m happy to be here,” said Johnson. “They knew it was going to take time to get better.”

 Cut time: The Indians had their first roster cut of the spring Friday as eight players were sent to the minors. Drew Pomeranz, Bryce Stowell, Nick Hagadone, Jared Goedert, Nelson De La Cruz, Corey Kluber, Chun Chen and Hector Rondon were optioned, dropping the roster to 54.

Kluber, Goedert and Rondon were sent to Class AAA Columbus. Rondon is out for the year with Tommy John surgery and Goedert has a strained right oblique muscle. De La Cruz and Hagadone were optioned to Class AA Akron. Pomeranz, Stowell and Chen were re-assigned to minor league camp.

Tryout: Right-hander Jason Davis is in minor league camp for a tryout. He threw for the Indians today and will stay in camp for the next several days until a decision is made.

Davis pitched for the Indians from 2002 through 2007. He also pitched for Seattle and Pittsburgh. Davis did not pitch in 2010 and went 0-8 in 35 games for Class AAA Indianapolis, the Pirates top farm club, in 2009.

He has not pitched in the big league since 2008.

“He’s always had a good arm and he threw well today,” said Ross Atkins, Indians director of player development. 

 Tribe on TV: You can see former Tribe GM John Hart on SBTV on cleveland.com today. Hart is promoing MLB Network’s feature on the Indians as part of its 30 teams in 30 days special on spring training.

 MLB’s piece on the Tribe is scheduled to air Saturday at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET.

 On leave: Indians outfielder Jordan Brown has left camp to tend to a family m matter.

 One-on-one: Anthony Reyes threw 31 pitches to Grady Sizemore Friday morning in a batting practice session.

“He looked good,” said manager Manny Acta. “If everything goes OK, he’ll throw a bullpen on Sunday and probably pitch in a game on Tuesday.”

Sizemore hit two balls out of the batting cage. One off the left center field wall and one up the middle.

Reyes was shut down with a sore right elbow after missing last season following Tommy John surgery. Sizemore is recovering from microfracture surgery on his left knee.

 Mr. Conglomerate: On Thursday, Justin Masterson retired nine straight batters, five on strikeouts, against the Cubs.

 When asked what pitch he got most of his strikeouts on, the always engaging Masterson said, “It was a conglomerate.” 

 Today’s lineups:

 Mariners: SS Josh Wilson, 3B Luis Rodriguez, 1B Adam Kennedy, DH Jack Cust, LF Matt Tuiasosopo, CF Michael Saunders, 2B Dustin Ackley, C Chris Gimenez, RF Johermyn Chavez and P Michael Pineda.

 Indians: 2B Orlando Cabrera, SS Asdrubal Cabrera, RF Shin-Soo Choo, LF Austin Kearns, DH Travis Hafner, 3B Lonnie Chisenhall, C Lou Marson, 1B Jack Hannahan, CF Ezequiel Carrera and P Mitch Talbot.

 In the pen: Chad Durbin, Doug Mathis, Justin Germano and Josh Judy are scheduled to follow Talbot.

 The Indians game against Seattle will be carried today on WTAM on a delayed basis at 7 p.m. ET. 
 
 What’s ahead: The Indians play the Angels on Saturday at Goodyear Ballpark at 2:05 MT. STO will televise the game at 4:05 p.m. ET. WTAM will carry the game live.

 Fausto Carmona will face the Angels Dan Haren. Josh Tomlin, Tony Sipp and Rafael Perez will follow Carmona. It will be Perez’s first Cactus League start.