Indians' Carrasco wins first start since leukemia diagnosis

Carlos Carrasco started again. His inspiring comeback from cancer is complete.

More than a year since being stricken with leukemia, Carrasco struck out 10 in six-plus innings and José Ramírez homered twice as the Cleveland Indians clobbered the Kansas City Royals 9-2 on Sunday to win two of three in the delayed season-opening series.

Ramírez hit a three-run homer left-handed in the fourth and added a solo shot from the right side in the sixth for the Indians, who finally put some solid swings together against Kansas City's bullpen.

From left to right, Cleveland Indians' Jose Ramirez is congratulated by Yu Chang and Cesar Hernandez after hitting a three-run home run in the fourth inning in a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Sunday, July 26, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoTony Dejak)

With his rotation currently thin due to pitchers testing positive for COVID-19, Royals manager Mike Matheny started reliever Ronald Bolaños (0-1), who gave up two runs in the first and took the loss.

Carrasco couldn't have imagined his journey when he took the mound on May 30, 2019, against the Chicago White Sox. Only days later, he was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, a blood disorder that threatened his life.

But he's back in Cleveland's rotation, and the sight of him starting warmed everyone who has followed his feel-good return.

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco winds up in the first inning in a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Sunday, July 26, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoTony Dejak)

Carrasco was in command of the Royals from the outset. He allowed two runs and five hits before he was lifted after allowing a leadoff double in the seventh.

It's been a remarkable road back for the 33-year-old Carrasco, whose personal battle with the disease bonded his teammates and rallied Indians fans around the pitcher known as “Cookie.”

Carrasco's memorable on-field appearance at last year's All-Star Game led to an outpouring of support. “I Stand For Cookie” T-shirts became a fashion trend around town, and his return as a reliever late last season was the pinnacle of 2019 when the Indians failed to make the playoffs.

Cleveland Indians' Francisco Lindor watches his ball after hitting a one run double in the third inning in a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Sunday, July 26, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoTony Dejak)

Before Sunday's game, Indians manager Terry Francona appreciated the significance of Carrasco (1-0) starting again.

“The fact that he’s come so far and it’s not just that he’s conquered this and he’s pitching, which is really awesome," Francona said. “He's trying to win a game for us, and that’s even more awesome.”

Carrasco retired the first 10 Royals before giving up a one-out double to Adalberto Mondesi in the fourth. But by then, the Indians had scored four times — helped by two Kansas City errors — before Ramírez connected for Cleveland's first homer of the season to make it 7-1.

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco delivers in the first inning in a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Sunday, July 26, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoTony Dejak)

Unable to get any two-out hits in the first two games, the Indians finally connected in the first with Franmil Reyes and Domingo Santana delivering RBI singles. Cleveland came in 0 for 18 with two outs in the series.

The inning was helped by a throwing error by third baseman Erick Mejia and Bolanos' wild pitch.

All-Star Francisco Lindor, who started the season 1 for 10, had an RBI double and Ramírez scored four times for Cleveland.

Cleveland Indians' Jose Ramirez runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run in the fourth inning in a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Sunday, July 26, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoTony Dejak)

FEUDING FRIENDS

Baseball's new automatic-runner rule triggered some playful social media sparring by former Indians teammates Mike Clevinger and Trevor Bauer.

Clevinger slammed the rule following the Indians' 3-2 loss on Saturday, saying, “This isn't travel ball. I’m not happy about it." The always outspoken Bauer, who was traded to Cincinnati by Cleveland last year, shot back at his friend on Twitter.

Cleveland Indians' Franmil Reyes hits an RBI-single in the first inning in a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Sunday, July 26, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoTony Dejak)

“But don’t both sides get a chance with a runner at second base?” Bauer asked his buddy.

Francona understands MLB's reasoning behind the rule, and said it's up to teams to adapt.

“You’re handed whatever rules or whatever challenges you’re dealt and you do the best you can,” he said.

Cleveland Indians' Francisco Lindor, center, is caught in a rundown between Kansas City Royals' Whit Merrifield, back, and Erick Mejia in the third inning in a baseball game Sunday, July 26, 2020, in Cleveland. Lindor was out on the play. (AP PhotoTony Dejak)

UP NEXT

Royals: LHP MIke Montgomery starts the opener of a four-game series in Detroit.

Indians: Stay at home for three more games against the Chicago White Sox, with Aaron Civale starting for the Indians.

Cleveland Indians' Domingo Santana is tagged out by Kansas City Royals' Adalberto Mondesi at second base in the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 26, 2020, in Cleveland. Santana tried to advance to second base on a single on the play. (AP PhotoTony Dejak)

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Mohamed Salah scored and Egypt eliminated defending champion Ivory Coast to move into the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals with a 3-2 victory on Saturday.

Salah nabbed his fourth goal of the tournament — Egypt’s third of the game — in the 52nd minute and the Pharaohs needed it as Ivory Coast threatened to twice come back from two goals down.

But Egypt held on in Agadir despite relentless Ivorian pressure and booked a semifinal date with 2021 champion Senegal in Tangier on Wednesday.

Ivory Coast had a woeful start as Franck Kessie lost the ball in midfield after a poor touch and Odilon Kossounou fell over instead of cutting out Emam Ashour’s ball for Omar Marmoush, who scored in the fourth minute.

Ramy Rabia produced a brilliant block to preserve the lead then scored himself with a header from a corner in the 32nd.

Ivory Coast finally pulled one back in the 40th when Ahmed Abou El Fotouh bundled in a dangerous Yan Diomande free kick that Kossounou headed on.

Salah restored Egypt’s two-goal cushion early in the second half when Rabia caught the Ivorian defense out with a long ball for Ashour, who set up Salah with the outside of his boot.

Guéla Doué pulled one back again with his heel in a goalmouth scramble after goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy clawed the ball away in the 73rd, but the equalizer never came.

Egypt is bidding for a record-extending eighth title.

Victor Osimhen scored one goal and set up another for Nigeria to down Algeria 2-0 for its place in the semifinals.

The Super Eagles, who had a far from ideal preparation with reports of bonuses not being paid, will face host Morocco in the second semifinal in Rabat on Wednesday.

They needed patience in Marrakech against the team with the best defense in the tournament after failing to take their chances in the first half — Akor Adams fired over when he had only Luca Zidane in the Algeria goal to beat, and Calvin Bassey had another effort cleared off the line.

Osimhen finally scored after the break when he headed the ball back across Zidane’s direction of movement from Bruno Onyemaechi’s cross.

It was the first goal at the tournament conceded by Zidane, whose parents were in the stands again.

But it was quickly followed by the second.

Patient buildup play preceded Alex Iwobi’s pass to Osimhen, who unselfishly played across for Adams, who eluded the out-rushing Zidane and poked the ball into the empty net in the 57th.

Algeria coach Vladimir Petković reacted with three changes including the withdrawals of captain Riyad Mahrez and star forward Ibrahim Maza but there was nothing the Fennec Foxes could do to get back in the game against the confident and assured Nigerians, who remained in control throughout.

Adams struck the post when he looked certain to score the third.

Three-time champion Nigeria, which lost the final to Ivory Coast in the last edition, is bidding to win the title for the first time since 2013. It would help make up for the disappointment of failing to qualify for the World Cup — in contrast to Algeria.

AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations

Egypt's Mohamed Salah, left, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Egypt and Ivory Coast, in Agadir, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Egypt's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Egypt and Ivory Coast, in Agadir, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Egypt's Mohamed Salah, right, scores his side's third goal during the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Egypt and Ivory Coast, in Agadir, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Nigeria's Calvin Bassey, front, and Algeria's Redouane Berkane challenge for the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Nigeria and Algeria, in Marrakech, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Algeria's Fares Chaibi, left, and Nigeria's Akor Adams challenge for the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Nigeria and Algeria, in Marrakech, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Algeria's Rafik Belghali, left, and Nigeria's Akor Adams challenge for the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Nigeria and Algeria, in Marrakech, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Nigeria's Victor Osimhen celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Nigeria and Algeria, in Marrakech, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Nigeria's Victor Osimhen controls the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Nigeria and Algeria, in Marrakech, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)