CLEVELAND — A longtime proponent of interleague play, Indians manager Manny Acta sounds as though he’s changing his tune a bit.

“I am a purist but I think (the American League’s) the only one that doesn’t get anything out of it,” Acta said. “We lose a guy (designated hitter) in our lineup and also put a pitcher out there that doesn’t hit all year.

“What’s the downside for the National League (at American League parks), they don’t have a pitcher hit?”

Acta was especially displeased with Major League Baseball schedule-maker, who has his club play nine straight games on the road at National League parks, which kept one of its hottest hitters — DH Travis Hafner — out of the lineup. It is the second straight season the Indians have endured such a trip.

“Other than continue to whine, there’s not much you can do about it,” Acta said. “But I don’t think we can take it for three years in a row. I don’t think they can do that. They have to do something.”

Hafner was back in a starting role Monday, bringing his team-leading .341 batting average, seven home runs and 30 RBIs. He went 2-for-5 with a walk and an RBI during the interleague road swing — all as a pinch hitter.

“It was painful going through nine games without him in the lineup, especially with the way he was swinging the bat,” Acta said. “He’s a big part of our lineup. We’re very happy to have him back.”

After being swept by the Giants on the first leg of the NL road trip, Cleveland won four of the next six games to finish the year 11-7 in interleague play. The Indians won just five of 18 games against NL opponents in 2010.

Wounded Wahoos

Acta said Carmona underwent an MRI on his injured right leg, with results available after the game. The right-hander, who sustained the injury during an awkward fall while running to first base Saturday, is scheduled to start Thursday.

(bullet) First baseman Matt LaPorta (right ankle sprain) ran the bases for the first time Monday, also taking batting practice and participating in fielding drills.

Acta said LaPorta would go through another workout today before the Indians make a decision on whether he needs a minor league rehab assignment.

Star struck

Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and closer Chris Perez met with reporters a day after being selected to the All-Star Game for the first time via the player vote.

Despite much better numbers, Cabrera lost out on a starting job, finishing behind New York’s Derek Jeter in fan voting.

“He’s very good,” Cabrera said of Jeter. “I respect him. I’m just happy to be going.”

Perez received the news after arriving back from Florida, where he attended the funeral of his grandmother — a big baseball fan.

“Obviously, when I started playing, she followed me,” Perez said. “She watched every game, knew everybody on the team and their stats. She was a big time fan.”

Mr. Professional

Speaking of Jeter, the Yankees shortstop was activated from the disabled list and was in the lineup for the series opener Monday, continuing his quest for 3,000 hits in Cleveland. He entered Monday with 2,994 hits.

“I can’t wait for him to get it done,” Acta said. “Has anybody represented this game better than that guy? He’s one of the true few legends that’s still playing.

“If Major League Baseball opens a school on how to play the game, he and guys like Tom Glavine should be teaching.”

Jeter might not play in all three games but he has flourished against the Indians throughout his 15-year career. In 124 games against Cleveland entering Monday, Jeter was batting .343 (168-for-490) with 10 homers and 66 RBIs.

Minor details

Right-hander Jeanmar Gomez improved to 9-2 with a 2.46 ERA for Triple-A Columbus, allowing two runs on five hits over eight innings of a 4-2 victory over Louisville on Sunday. … Clippers outfielder Ezequiel Carrera stole his 30th base Sunday. He had been caught stealing just four times through Sunday.

Incoming

A day after signing 16-year-old Dominican shortstop Dorssys Paulino, the Indians agreed to terms with four more Latino players — OF Francisco Miguel (Dominican Republic), LHP Edgar Pineda (Venezuela), OF Omar Sanchez (Venezuela) and OF Anthony Santander (Dominican Republic).

All four players are 16.

Roundin’ third

The Indians entered Monday having been in first place or tied for first in 82 of the last 88 days since April 7. … Entering Monday, Cleveland’s pitching staff owned a 2.92 ERA over the last 19 games. … Tonight, 7:05, STO/WTAM 1100-AM/WEOL 930-AM. Carrasco (8-4, 3.54) vs. Sabathia (11-4, 3.05).

CINCINNATI – Cleveland Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and closer Chris Perez were picked by other major leaguers for reserve roles on the American League All-Star team. It’s the first time for both players.

They got news of their selections before the final game of a series against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. Cabrera was getting ready for the game, while Perez was on his way back from attending his grandmother’s funeral in Florida.

“I just say thank you to everybody,” Cabrera said.

Cabrera has been the most consistent hitter in Cleveland’s offense, while Perez has been nearly flawless in a bullpen that is one of the team’s strengths. The Indians have been one of the majors’ biggest surprises this season, leading the AL Central.

Last year, starter Fausto Carmona was Cleveland’s lone All-Star representative. He has lost 10 games this season and went on the 15-day disabled list before Sunday’s game with a strained right thigh.

“It’s a credit to the major league scouts and the front office, to bring in two All-Stars who have a chance for this to be not the last time for them,” manager Manny Acta said.

Cabrera came to Cleveland in the 2006 trade that sent Eduardo Perez to Seattle. The 25-year-old switch-hitter was batting .294 with a career-high 14 homers and 49 RBIs heading into Sunday’s game. He led American League shortstops in hits, runs, doubles, homers and RBIs.

Cabrera finished second to Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter in the fan voting for shortstop. Jeter got 4.5 million votes, while Cabrera had 4.07 million.

“What Asdrubal has done this year is nothing short of All-Star caliber,” Acta said. “He’s been a big part of stabilizing our lineup, that’s for sure. He’s been our best hitter from Day One. He’s a good defensive player, too.”

The 14 homers are the biggest breakthrough. Cabrera came into the season with a total of 18 career homers and decided to try to hit for more power. He’s been surprised by his home run total.

“I know I’ve got a little power, but I’ve never tried to use it,” he said. “I just try to hit the ball hard sometimes.”

Acta thought he could hit more homers, but didn’t expect so many so soon.

“I’d be lying to you if I told you I wasn’t surprised by the power numbers,” Acta said. “I always thought he’d be a double-digit (homer) guy, but not double-digit in the first half.”

Cabrera is the first Indians shortstop picked for the All-Star game since Omar Vizquel in 2002.

The Indians got Perez from St. Louis in 2009 as part of the trade for Mark DeRosa. Perez has converted 19 of his 20 save chances this season, including 13 in a row. Since Aug. 12, he is 29 of 30 in save chances.

Perez has been dependable under pressure. He has converted 10 of his 11 save chances with a one-run lead, and 19 of his last 20.

“He looked perfect for that role,” Acta said. “Even this year, he looks calm and in control and has a short memory, though he hasn’t had to use that short memory a lot. He’s gotten a lot of one-run saves with the heart of the order up. Those are legit.”

Perez is the first Indians closer to make the All-Star team since Bob Wickman in 2005.

The game will be played Tuesday, July 12, in Arizona.

CINCINNATI – The Indians finished interleague play thinking: Not bad at all.

Edgar Renteria hit his first homer since his World Series MVP performance, helping the Cincinnati Reds break out of their offensive slump and beat the Indians 7-5 on Sunday, their only win of the season against their intrastate rival.

The Indians took five of six in the series, matching its best result. The Reds also went 5-1 in 2008.

After getting swept in San Francisco, the Indians won four of six in Arizona and Cleveland to retake first place in the AL Central.

“I’m just glad the road trip is over,” manager Manny Acta said. “I’m happy with the results. I’m extremely happy with the way we bounced back in Arizona and here, especially without having (DH Travis) Hafner.”

The problem Sunday was another erratic start by Mitch Talbot.

Chris Heisey also homered off Talbot (2-5), who has struggled with consistency since returning from a sore elbow. The Reds piled up six runs and 10 hits in his four innings.

“I’m trying to figure out what’s the difference between my good starts and my bad starts,” Talbot said. “I don’t know what to do right now.”

Mike Leake (8-4) became the Reds’ first eight-game winner, matching his career high with eight strikeouts in six innings. Francisco Cordero pitched the ninth for his 17th save in 19 chances.

Five players learned before the game that they’ll be headed to Arizona for the All-Star game next week – Cleveland’s Asdrubal Cabrera and Chris Perez, Cincinnati’s Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce. Instead of the stars, the reserves rallied Cincinnati to its breakthrough win.

Renteria had a pair of hits, including his first homer in 130 at-bats this season. He hit three for the Giants last season, and two more in the World Series.

Heisey also had a pair of hits during a rare start in center field. Miguel Cairo filled in at third base and had a pair of hits and scored twice.

Cincinnati is delighted to be done with interleague play.

The defending NL Central champions went only 6-12 against the American League, keeping them stuck a few games out of first place at the season’s midpoint.

By contrast, the AL Central-leading Indians prospered, going 11-7 in interleague games even though they couldn’t use Hafner as a DH on the road.

The Reds put together a bunch of hits that went between fielders, over outstretched gloves and – in Renteria’s case – barely over the outfield wall. His solo homer in the sixth barely cleared the yellow padding atop the wall in right and made it 7-2.

It was another disappointing showing for Talbot, who was on the disabled list in May with a sore pitching elbow. In eight starts since returning, he is 1-5 and has allowed 31 earned runs in 402⁄3 innings.

“It’s usually the first inning that gets me,” said Talbot, who didn’t have a problem with it this time. “Once I get through that, I cruise. I’m not too sure what happened today.”

Notable

The Indians lead the all-time series 39-36.

• OF Travis Buck missed his second straight game with a tight left hamstring.

• RH Fausto Carmona went on the 15-day DL with a strained right thigh, suffered during his tumble at first base on Saturday. Perez, who had been in Florida for his grandmother’s funeral, was activated off the bereavement list.

• The Indians signed 16-year-old SS Dorssys Paulino from the Dominican Republic. He’s the son of Jesus Sanchez, a left-hander who played for the Marlins, Cubs, Rockies, and Reds from 1998-2004. He’ll enter Cleveland’s new academy in the Dominican

TONIGHT

• WHO: Cleveland vs. New York Yankees
• TIME: 6:35
• WHERE: Progressive Field
• PITCHERS: Tomlin (9-4, 3.86 ERA) vs. Burnett (8-6, 4.05)
• TV/RADIO: SportsTime Ohio; WEOL 930-AM, WTAM 1100-AM

CINCINNATI — Indians reliever Joe Smith answered the compliment with a question.

“We were the stars?” he said.

Yes. And never brighter.

Frank Herrmann took over after Cleveland starter Fausto Carmona took a tumble Saturday, pitching three innings for his first big league win, and the rest of the Indians bullpen followed his lead for a 3-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

The bullpen has been the foundation for Cleveland’s surprising season — a slim lead in the AL Central at the midpoint.

“It’s not a secret that those guys are good,” manager Manny Acta said. “We’ve got three or four guys with ERAs below 2.00.”

Good numbers indeed. So are the Indians’ numbers against their intrastate rival — 5-0, one win away from the first sweep in the interleague series’ history.

More important is the way Cleveland has started July. After going 10-17 in June, the Indians are 2-0 in the new month.

“It can’t get any worse than it got in June,” Acta said. “We’re moving forward now.”

Michael Brantley hit a three-run homer in Cleveland’s strange third inning against Homer Bailey (3-3), one that put the Indians ahead and cost them a pitcher. Carmona fell hard while running out a bunt, leaving the game with a strained right thigh.

Carmona had bandages on his forearm and thigh, and two fingers on his pitching hand were taped together after the game. He smiled and declined to talk about his tumble, which seemed like nothing more than a blooper at first.

“The way he went out, we were kind of laughing,” Smith said. “Then we found out (he was hurt). It stinks when your starter goes out, but our bullpen is tough.”

Herrmann (1-0) retired nine of the 10 batters he faced, a good showing considering he hadn’t pitched since June 20.

“I was definitely fresh today,” he said. “Not pitching in 11 days, it’s not easy. That’s the first time I really tried to do that in my life.”

Smith struck out Brandon Phillips with the bases loaded in the seventh, extending his streak to 19 scoreless appearances. Joey Votto homered in the eighth off left-hander Tony Sipp. Vinnie Pestano escaped a two-on threat in the ninth, fanning Scott Rolen for his first save in four tries.

It’s the first time that Cleveland has won five games in a season series against Cincinnati. No team has swept the season series, which started in 1997. The Reds went 5-1 in 2008.

The defending NL Central champions will be glad to be done with interleague play. The Reds have struggled mightily against the American League, going 5-12. Cleveland is 11-6 against the NL.

“Our total game’s not in sync,” manager Dusty Baker said. “We’re having trouble getting that big hit. We had them in a lot of jams — a lot of opportunities.”

Carmona was shaken up following his chest-first tumble. He was the Indians’ lone All-Star last season, but has fallen on hard times, tying for the major league lead in losses at 4-10. One bad step cost him a chance to get his season turned around.

Lou Marson singled before Carmona bunted to third baseman Rolen, who threw to second to try to start a double play. Shortstop Paul Janish pulled his foot off the base as he reached for the throw, an error that left Marson safe.

Carmona was running hard down the line to beat the anticipated relay and tripped a few feet from the base, sending him sprawling. He got up, stretched his right thigh and pitching hand, talked to Acta and walked off the field.

Brantley followed with a drive into the Indians bullpen, where Herrmann was starting to warm up to replace Carmona. It was Brantley’s first homer since June 6.

“I didn’t think it was going to be the last runs we scored,” Brantley said.

Notes

The first two games of the series sold out. Cincinnati has sold out eight games this season.

… Three umpires worked the top of the first inning because Derryl Cousins was ill. He took his spot at third base for the bottom of the inning.

… The Indians expect closer Chris Perez back today from his grandmother’s funeral in Florida.

… Pestano’s last save came on Sept. 26.

… Herrmann got the win in his 55th major league appearance.

… Indians OF Travis Buck was diagnosed with a mild strain of his left hamstring, suffered during Friday night’s game. He’s expected back in a couple of days.