CLEVELAND — As the curtain closed on another Indians game Wednesday night, “Cleveland Rocks” blared from the sound system at Progressive Field.
For the Indians, it sure does.
The Central Division’s surprising leader continued its winning ways at home, breezing by the second-place Royals, 7-2, for its ninth straight win at Progressive Field.
Cleveland, which didn’t win its ninth game at home last year until June 9, has been downright dominant this season, winning nine of its 11 home games.
“It’s early to be calling it dominant, but we’ve played very well at home,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “We like it here.
“You have to do that. Usually, on the road, things get tougher, so you have to be able to play well at home, and we’ve done that.”
“I think it’s huge for us,” said Wednesday’s starting pitcher Josh Tomlin, who improved to 4-0 with a 2.45 ERA, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk over six innings. “It’s momentum. I know when we come back here that we feel like we can win.”
Tomlin, who has allowed two runs or less in four of his five starts this year, has done nothing but pitch effectively and win this year.
With another quality outing under his belt, the 26-year-old right-hander became the first Indians pitcher to last at least five innings in each of his first 17 big league starts.
He allowed two home runs for Kansas City’s only runs of the night in the second inning, surrendering little else after.
“I’m impressed with everybody here,” said veteran second baseman Orlando Cabrera. “But he’s a guy that’s not going to blow you away with 95 (mph), but he can mix up his pitches. He’s throwing the ball really well.”
Tomlin’s brief hiccup in the second inning barely put a dent in the Indians’ advantage after Cleveland scored five times in the opening inning, three on a bases-clearing double from Orlando Cabrera off Royals starter Jeff Francis.
After Grady Sizemore grounded out to start the inning, the Indians strung together five straight hits, culminating with Cabrera’s double to left-center.
“Our offense had a very good approach early against Francis,” Acta said. “We wanted to make him bring it over the plate.”
“It’s always nice to pitch with the lead,” Tomlin said. “I knew I could just go out there and throw strikes and let the defense do its job.”
Tomlin’s 4-0 start is one win shy of rotation mate Justin Masterson’s 5-0 record. The last time Cleveland had two pitchers begin the season 4-0 or better was back in 1988 when Greg Swindell (5-0) and Tom Candiotti (4-0) accomplished as much.
Starting pitching has been a big part of Cleveland’s surprising start to the season, which left the Indians 3 1/2 games in front of the rest of a Central Division field that has scuffled out of the gate.
When does it stop being a surprise for the Indians, and when do they start talking contention?
“It’s early, but I see a lot of confidence,” Orlando Cabrera said. “It seems like no one else in this division wants it, so we’re gonna take it, right? We’re playing really good baseball.”
(bullet) Acta announced after the game that the Indians would promote a reliever today to take the roster spot of starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco, who is likely headed to the disabled list with a strained right elbow.
Cleveland would then have to make another move Saturday, calling up a starter to take Carrasco’s place against Detroit. It is likely to be Triple-A Columbus’ Alex White, the Indians’ first-round draft pick in 2009.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
