The Indians failed to complete the three-game sweep of the Royals on Sunday, dropping a 2-1 decision at Progressive Field.

The Indians managed just a run on five hits in 7 1/3 innings off Royals starter Bruce Chen. Cleveland didn’t have a hit after the third inning.

Justin Masterson was the tough-luck loser again, allowing two runs on nine hits over six innings.

CLEVELAND – Jim Thome celebrated his birthday by putting another candle on the cake and another ball into the stands.

Asdrubal Cabrera, however, gave Indians fans an even bigger reason to cheer Saturday night.

Cabrera hammered a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, lifting the Tribe to a stunning 8-7 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

The come-from-behind win allowed Cleveland (65-64) to stay 6½ games behind Detroit in the American League Central Division – and was its second in as many nights since Thome rejoined the team in a trade with Minnesota.

“I’m old enough to be a lot of people’s dads, but these guys are making me feel young,” said Thome, who hit his 602nd career home run on his 41st birthday. “Asdrubal’s homer was tremendous and really made this night special. Hopefully we can keep it going.”

Cabrera’s three-run shot off Royals reliever Louis Coleman completed the Indians’ comeback from a 7-4 deficit. Kansas City had broken a 4-4 tie in the top of the seventh on Alex Gordon’s three-run homer deep into the center-field stands.

Tribe left-hander Tony Sipp entered the game specifically to face Gordon, but it turned out disastrously as he served up a 390-foot shot that scored Johnny Giavotella and Alcides Escobar.

“It was a roller coaster of emotions tonight, but we wound up with a very important win,” Cleveland manager Manny Acta said.

“We need to continue to take care of our own business and see what happens. This win was big, though.”

The Indians pulled within 7-5 in the bottom of the seventh when Cabrera scored Kosuke Fukudome on a double off Kansas City reliever Blake Wood.

Coleman (1-4, 2.75 ERA) quickly recorded two outs in the eighth, but pinch hitter Lonnie Chisenhall singled and Fukudome walked, putting the potential go-ahead run at the plate in Cabrera.

The all-star shortstop got a hanging slider from Coleman, and promptly smashed it to deep right field for his 21st homer of the season.

Cleveland closer Chris Perez rapidly warmed up and retired the Royals in the ninth for his 29th save, while Joe Smith (3-3, 1.53 ERA) picked up the win with his third of an inning of work.

“As soon as Cabby hit it, I knew it was gone,” Perez said. “We need wins right now, so this was very big tonight. Being 6½ games out isn’t an easy situation, but it looks a whole lot better than being 7½ out.”

Thome brought the energetic crowd of 35,370 to its feet in the sixth inning when he hit one of his trademark laser shots into the first row of the bleachers in left.

The solo home run off starter Danny Duffy tied the score at 4 and earned Thome a two-minute standing ovation and subsequent curtain call.

It was Thome’s first home run in an Indians uniform since Sept. 28, 2002, marked his 187th at Jacobs/Progressive Field and extended his franchise record to 335. He finished the evening 1-for-3 with two runs, one walk and two strikeouts.

“The last two days have been a whirlwind in a good sort of way,” said Thome, who ranks eighth in MLB history in homers and is seven behind Sammy Sosa for seventh place. “This home run brought back a lot of memories, but I have already made new memories here since I got home.

“To come home and hear the reception and the fans be so joyful and energetic, I’ll never forget it.”

Tribe starter Fausto Carmona lived on the edge throughout his 61⁄3-inning stint, allowing eight hits and six runs, five of them earned.

The right-hander’s numbers could have been much worse, but Shelley Duncan saved at least two runs by making a pair of clutch defensive plays in left field. On the other hand, they would have looked much better had Sipp not staged his torch job.

“Carmona was OK, but their left-handed hitters kind of wore him out,” Acta said. “Tony has been money all year, but he hung a slider and Gordon made him pay for it.”

Left-hander Duffy went 51⁄3 innings, allowing four runs while striking out seven before being removed after Thome’s blast. He also was on the mound when Cleveland right fielder Shin-Soo Choo felt his sore left back/side flare up, forcing him to leave the game and be shut down for several days.

Third baseman Jack Hannahan was another major contributor for the Indians with two hits and three RBIs. He and Duncan were the only players to honor Thome by emulating his high-socks look.

“As soon as Jimmy walked into the clubhouse for the first time, everybody sparked up,” Hannahan said. “The impact he’s had here already has been big. We’re having a great time right now, and we don’t want it to stop.”

Contact Brian Dulik at brisports@hotmail.com.

TODAY

• WHO: Cleveland vs. Kansas City
• TIME: 1:05WHERE: Progressive Field
• PITCHERS: Masterson (10-7, 2.83 ERA) vs. Chen (9-5, 4.12)
• TV/RADIO: SportsTime Ohio, Channel 3; WEOL 930-AM, WTAM 1100-AM

CLEVELAND – Indians pitcher Josh Tomlin believes his first trip to the disabled list will be a short one.

The right-hander was put on the shelf Friday with right elbow soreness, retroactive to Aug. 25, but says he has no concerns about missing the rest of the season.

“I feel like having two weeks off will be pretty beneficial for me,” Tomlin said Saturday prior to the Tribe’s game against the Kansas City Royals. “After I have the time to rest it up, I’ll be back for sure.”

Tomlin is eligible to come off the 15-day DL on Sept. 9, which would allow him to make four starts before the regular season ends Sept. 28.

The sooner, the better for Cleveland, which needs him as it attempts to catch the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central Division.

Tomlin owns a 12-7 record with a 4.25 ERA in a team-high 165 1⁄3 innings. He leads the AL in fewest walks per nine innings (1.14) and is tied for ninth in victories, but doesn’t think the heavy workload triggered his injury.

“I threw 180 innings last year, even though (107 1⁄3) were in the minors, so I feel like I’m capable of throwing 200,” the 26-year-old said. “It’s unfortunate this happened, but I really think it’s just some inflammation that came up.”

Not only is this Tomlin’s first DL appearance in the big leagues, it’s his first since turning pro with Single-A Mahoning Valley in 2006. He added this is the initial arm injury he has suffered.

Tomlin said he experienced discomfort throughout his last start, in which he lasted just 4 2⁄3 innings Wednesday in a 9-2 loss to Seattle. That outing also ended his MLB all-time record-tying streak of 37 straight appearances of at least five innings to begin a career.

“Any pitcher who tells you they aren’t sore during the season is lying to you, but I didn’t feel any pain,” Tomlin said, referring to his postgame statement that he wasn’t pitching with an injury. “You’ll have to ask Lonnie (Soloff, trainer) the exact details, but it’s just a strain, nothing serious.

“I’ll probably get on some anti-inflammatories (medicine) and keep icing it for the next two weeks, then I hope to be back out there.”

Outfield shuffle

Center fielder Kosuke Fukudome batted leadoff Saturday for the first time since joining the Indians. His 26 previous starts had come in the 5-6-7 spots in the batting order.

“He’s the perfect guy to have leading off,” manager Manny Acta said. “He’s been there, done that in the past, so he’s doing it again.”

The skipper also praised Fukudome’s defensive contributions since being acquired from the Chicago Cubs on July 27. He has played 16 games in right field and 11 in center with the Tribe.

“Whether he’s in right or center, you never worry about his defense,” Acta said. “We tried going with a platoon for a while when (Shin-Soo) Choo got hurt, but it didn’t work for us. (Fukudome) has stabilized everything in the outfield. He’s been very good for us.”

• Acta also declared Choo fully recovered from his sore left side/back. He was in the lineup for the first time since Tuesday, batting third and playing right field.

• Injured center fielder Grady Sizemore did some pregame outfield work, catching balls hit with a fungo bat. He also took batting practice, prompting Acta to say it “won’t be too long” before he goes on a rehab assignment.

Jack of all trades

Jack Hannahan has been reinstated as Cleveland’s starting third baseman. Acta said the defensive specialist, who is batting .306 in his last 24 games, has earned the spot over rookie Lonnie Chisenhall.

“Jack is swinging the bat well and we’ve got to try to protect our pitchers, so he’ll keep playing a lot,” Acta said.

Chisenhall was given the job upon his promotion from Triple-A Columbus on June 27, but hit only .240 with eight RBIs in his first 40 games.

Hannahan, meanwhile, used his refocus on the task at hand.

“I think he benefitted from not being out there every single day when Lonnie was in there,” Acta said. “He’s fresh now, and he’s gotten back to what he had been doing at the plate earlier in the season.”

Minor details

Shortstop Luis Valbuena and left fielder Tim Fedroff each had two hits Friday in Columbus’ 2-1 loss to the Indianapolis Indians. Designated hitter Nick Johnson went 1-for-3 to raise his average to .204.

• Right-hander Cory Burns recorded his 33rd save for Double-A Akron in a 7-5 win over the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Catcher Chun Chen allowed his 17th passed ball, but it didn’t figure in the scoring.

• Single-A Lake County dropped a 4-2 decision to the West Michigan Whitecaps despite turning four double plays. Left-handed starter J.D. Reichenbach fell to 7-2 by allowing four runs in five innings.

Roundin’ third

The Indians are 12-5 when playing in front of 30,000 or more fans this season at Progressive Field, but 23-23 when they draw smaller crowds.

• Cleveland has 34 games over the final 33 days of the season. Its next scheduled off-day is Sept. 12.

Contact Brian Dulik at brisports@hotmail.com.

A North Ridgeville Water Department employee accused of stealing more than $9,000 from the city has been charged in connection with the crime.

Jenny Ocasio, 39, was charged Friday with theft in office, a third-degree felony that carries with it up to five years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine.

Ocasio had been investigated by North Ridgeville city officials after they noticed inconsistencies in the financial records of the Municipal Utilities Department. An internal investigation revealed that Ocasio had been stealing customer deposits made to the Water Department where she had worked for the last 10 years.

North Ridgeville Mayor David Gillock said Friday that it’s believed Ocasio had been stealing the money over at least the last three years. Gillock said he knew Ocasio well because she had worked at City Hall since before Gillock first was elected mayor in 2003, but he declined to discuss any of his personal feelings toward her.

“I’m not going to get into a lot of that. She’s a nice person,” he said.

Ocasio submitted her resignation letter last week after being informed she was going to be fired following the city’s investigation. Her union’s collective bargaining agreement allows employees to resign prior to being terminated.

Ocasio, a North Ridgeville resident, could not be reached for comment Friday.

Contact Adam Wright at 329-7155 or awright@chroniclet.com.