Indians upend K.C., 8-3

? Fausto Carmona is putting himself in position to make the American League All-Star team.

Carmona won his seventh consecutive decision, leading the Indians over the Kansas City Royals, 8-3, Thursday.

“The people picking the team are going to have to consider him,” Cleveland catcher Victor Martinez said. “He’s throwing the ball great.”

Franklin Gutierrez, Jason Michaels and Casey Blake homered for the Indians, who built an 8-1 lead and improved to 21-7 at home this year.

Carmona (7-1) has a 2.77 ERA in nine starts since April 13, when he made his first start of the season and was beaten 6-4 by Chicago. He allowed one run and seven hits in seven innings against the Royals, striking out five and walking one.

“I’m not thinking about the All-Star game, and I’m not thinking about how well I’m doing,” he said through interpreter Luis Rivera, the Indians first base coach. “I’m concentrating on my next start and the hitters I’ll have to face.”

Carmona throws 95 mph-plus, with a sinker that dives out of the strike zone.

“I haven’t caught anyone like him,” Martinez said. “His ball moves a lot. It’s really tough on hitters.”

Carmona was slated to start the season at Triple-A Buffalo but joined Cleveland’s rotation because of injuries to Cliff Lee and Jake Westbrook.

Kansas City scored in the seventh on a triple by Alex Gordon – who went 4-for-4 – and an RBI single by Buck. With two outs and runners on first and second, DeJesus hit a tapper to the right of the mound that Carmona fielded and tossed to first.

“I knew he was the guy I had to get,” Carmona said. “I threw him a sinker and he hit it back to me.”