Matt LaPorta delivered a couple of knock out blows. His two-out, three-run homer beat the Royals 5-2 to move Cleveland within 1½ games of the AL Central lead. LaPorta connected off Royals closer Joakim Soria (5-4) on a 1-1 pitch. It was Soria’s sixth blown save in 25 chances.
Soria hit Asdrubal Cabrera in the right foot with a pitch and Travis Hafner bounced into a force out and was replaced by pinch runner Orlando Cabrera. Carlos Santana doubled down the third-base line to put runners on second and third.
In the sixth Royals’ catcher Matt Treanor left with a concussion after tagging out Matt LaPorta trying to score. LaPorta showed some class after the game. “I hope he’s OK,” said LaPorta, who called the Royals clubhouse to check on Treanor, who had been taken to a hospital for a CT scan and will be placed on the seven-day concussion list.