Print edition: 
CLEVELAND — So what happens when your struggling opponent scores more runs by the end of the fifth inning than in its previous six games combined? And goes on to generate its highest output of the season?
You get smoked — as the Royals did Friday night in a 15-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians in the first of three weekend games between the American League Central two chief bottom-feeders.
"Ohhh... ," designated hitter Wilson Betemit offered, and nothing more, as he shook a bowed head.
Exactly. Ohhh.
The Indians' ailing attack, stats suggest, is saved only by Seattle's dour collection from being the worst in the league. It produced just seven runs in going 1-5 over its previous six games, which, perhaps not coincidentally, is how long it's been since they last saw the Royals.
There was no struggling Friday.
Matt LaPorta hit a three-run homer that ignited a six-run second inning against Royals starter Bryan Bullington. And after the Royals showed signs of mounting a comeback, reliever Kanekoa Texeira served up a three-run homer in the fifth to Chris Gimenez.
Jayson Nix's three-run homer highlighted a five-run eighth inning against rookie Greg Holland. The 15 runs topped the Indians' previous best total in a 13-11 victory over the Yankees on May 29.
"Pitching," manager Ned Yost said. "Starting pitching, man. If it's not good, you're in trouble. We're in the big leagues. There are no ifs. You've got to go out, and you've got to pitch.
"Bully really struggled to have any bite on his slider. He left some pitches middle in that he ended up getting hurt with. Really, they all did. It just wasn't a good night for us."
There's more.
The Royals' inefficient production made this a mess on both ends. They converted 16 hits and six walks into just four runs by stranding runners in every inning. Hitting into three double plays, two by Kila Ka'aihue, didn't help.
Gregor Blanco's four hits, which matched a career high, was a nice footnote. Willie Bloomquist had three hits. Betemit hit a homer. And it didn't really matter because the Royals stranded 16 runners.
"We just couldn't stop them," Blanco said. "It was a tough day all around."
Bullington (1-3) threw 88 pitches in four forgettable innings. That included 38 pitches in that crushing six-run second, which broke the game open. He also gave up a run in the fourth after the Royals closed to 6-3.
"They got seven hits in the (second) inning," Bullington said. "Obviously, I didn't execute like I needed to."
The Indians (52-76) are now just two games behind the Royals (54-74) in the battle to avoid last place. The two teams play nine more times in the season's final 34 games.
Jason Donald continued the carousel by punching a single to right before scoring on Gimenez's double into the left-field corner. Michael Brantley grounded an RBI single into center, stole second and scored on Shin-Soo Choo's single to right.
