Indians 7, Twins 6: LaPorta Delivers After Perez Surrenders Lead

Closers are allowed to make mistakes every now and then. Cleveland’s Chris Perez has been so dominant over the past six weeks, that everyone knew a night like Friday would happen eventually. For better or for worse, the Indians can’t 100% rely on a perfect bullpen every single night. That’s why it is helpful to play at home and give the offense a final chance.

Matt LaPorta provided the walk-off homer on the second pitch in the bottom of the ninth after Perez allowed a controversial double while blowing the save in the top half. The win improved the Tribe to a mediocre 26-27 since June 9th and a not-half-bad 13-9 since the MLB All-Star Break.

In the opener of one of the season’s longest home stands, Cleveland excited the Progressive Field crowd with rallies against each Minnesota score. The final tally ended the fun after a chaotic top of the ninth that featured an ejection for Twins manager Ron Gardenhire.

Trailing 6-4 in the ninth following a back-and-forth past few innings, Minnesota rallied quickly against Perez. J.J. Hardy reached on an infield single and pinch-hitter Jim Thome followed with a long shot to left field, appearing as a home run to many but ruled as a double off the wall. Gardenhire went into a tirade following the play, which instantly would have tied the game for his team.

Instead, the umpires confirmed the double through the iffy replay and Perez responded to strike out Denard Span. Fate could not go the Indians way for the whole frame however, as Alexi Casilla followed with a two-run single, bringing Hardy and pinch-runner Trevor Pluffe home to tie the game.

Matt Guerrier stayed in the game to finally protect the tie but after a ball to LaPorta, coughed up the walk-off blast to give the red-hot Indians the win. It was about as quirky as a victory you’ll see for Cleveland as the team collected four runs on seven hits and six walks in just 4.2 frames against ace Francisco Liriano.

LaPorta declared that the walk-off home run may have been his first in his entire career but the quote of the night belonged to Gardenhire about Thome’s double.

“Did you see it in HD?” Gardenhire said in the AP recap. “It’s a home run. HD showed it plain as day. The angle from the side showed it plain as day, off the railing. Go ask the cook [in the Twins clubhouse]. He can tell you and he’s from Cleveland.”

Using clubhouse assistants to back up your argument can only work so far in professional baseball. Sure the call was awful close, but it was certainly amusing to see the Twins (61-49 this season and 1.5 games behind division-leading Chicago) still create excuses when both runners scored in the inning anyway.

As for the Tribe, the win essentially epitomizes yet another optimistic second half of the season. Asdrubal Cabrera and Jayson Nix each smacked three base hits overall while the top six batters in the lineup provided al 12 hits, finishing 12-for-21 at the plate on the night.

This 10-game home stand continues Saturday at 7:05 p.m. as the Indians hope to deliver another crushing blow to Minnesota. Scott, TD and myself will all be in attendance watching All-Star Fausto Carmona (11-8, 3.78 ERA) match up against consistent Carl Pavano (13-7, 3.32 ERA) of the Twins.

(Photo of Matt LaPorta’s celebration above via Ron Schwane/Associated Press)