VENUE: Bank One Ballpark
GAME: Kansas City Royals (20-41) at Arizona Diamondbacks (33-30).
TIME: Sunday, 4:40 p.m. EDT.
D.J. Carrasco has been a pleasant surprise in an otherwise dismal season for the Kansas City Royals.
Carrasco looks to build off his first career complete game as the Royals wrap up a three-game interleague series with the Arizona Diamondbacks at Bank One Ballpark.
Carrasco allowed just five hits in Tuesday's 8-1 win over the San Francisco Giants. The right-hander, who has spent most of his career in the bullpen, was making his fifth start of the season since being called up from Triple-A Omaha on May 13.
"I had a feeling I was going to have success, but I didn't think it was going to be anything like this," Carrasco said. "It's definitely a blessing in disguise being a starter.
"A couple months ago, you could have told me this would happen and I would be, 'Yeah, right!' I was a reliever in Triple-A. This is Cloud 9."
The 28-year-old Carrasco allowed a run in the first inning Tuesday, but retired 26 of his final 29 batters. Carrasco, who struck out three, walked none and threw 111 pitches, was coming off a 3-1 win over the New York Yankees in which he allowed just four hits in six scoreless innings. He has an 0.43 ERA in his last two starts.
"He was outstanding," Royals manager Buddy Bell said. "You hope for a thing like this, for a guy to come out of nowhere and show you things you don't expect. For him, it's got to feel great because of where he's been."
The Royals beat the Diamondbacks 8-5 on Saturday, snapping a two-game slide and improving to 3-2 on their six-game road trip.
Emil Brown had a career-high four hits, including three doubles, three runs and two RBIs for Kansas City, while John Buck added a two run homer and J.P. Howell won in his major league debut.
Tony Clark and Shawn Green hit back-to-back homers in the eighth inning for Arizona, which has lost eight of 11.
STANDINGS: Royals - 5th place, 21 GB, AL Central. Diamondbacks - 2nd place (tied), 3½ GB, NL West.
ROYALS PROBABLE STARTER: Carrasco (2-1, 2.48 ERA). Carrasco is 0-0 with a 13.50 ERA in two career relief appearances - a total of two innings - against the Diamondbacks.
DIAMONDBACKS PROBABLE STARTER: Brandon Webb (7-2, 3.44 ERA). Webb allowed four earned runs and eight hits in five innings of Monday's 10-8 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. The 26-year-old right-hander has never faced the Royals.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS: Royals - Mike Sweeney, .298 avg., 9 HRs and 37 RBIs; Angel Berroa, David DeJesus and Brown, 30 runs; Berroa, 4 SBs. Diamondbacks - Luis Gonzalez, .307 avg., 41 RBIs and 42 runs; Troy Glaus, 14 HRs; Craig Counsell, 9 SBs.
SEASON SERIES: Tied, 1-1.
STREAKS AND NOTES: Royals - The Royals placed OF Matt Diaz (oblique) and RHP Steve Stemle (back) on the 15-day DL on Saturday to make room for LHP Howell and RHP Ryan Jensen, who were brought up from Triple-A Omaha. Kansas City also transferred LHP Brian Anderson, who has an inflamed elbow, to the 60-day DL. ... The Royals are 7-4 under Bell. ... 1B Sweeney missed his fourth straight game Saturday because of a sore right side. Diamondbacks - Arizona announced they were finishing Saturday's game under protest. Royals 3B Mark Teahen turned a catch into a double play after falling on his fielding arm and dropping the ball. He picked up the ball, tagged third then threw to second for the double play. Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin argued that Teahen dropped the ball on purpose. ... 1B Clark's homer was the 200th of his career. ... RHP Webb is 3-1 with a 2.85 ERA in six starts at home this season.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Royals - 9-22 on the road; Diamondbacks - 18-15 at home.
INJURIES: Royals - 1B Ken Harvey (back), 15-day DL; LHP Anderson (elbow), 60-day DL; RHP Denny Bautista (shoulder), 15-day DL; RHP Kyle Snyder (shoulder), 15-day DL; OF Diaz (oblique), 15-day DL; RHP Stemle (back), 15-day DL; RHP Scott Sullivan (back), 60-day DL. Diamondbacks - OF Luis Terrero (groin), 15-day DL; RHP Greg Aquino (arm), 15-day DL; RHP Brandon Lyon (elbow), 15-day DL; RHP Oscar Villarreal (shoulder), 60-day DL; INF Jerry Gil (knee), 60-day DL.
