• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Indians end Hochevar's perfect bid, beat Royals

Apr 21, 2011 - 6:22 AM Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Jack Hannahan went 2-for-4 with a two-run double to lead Cleveland over Kansas City 7-5 in the third of a four-game series.

Justin Masterson (4-0) lasted six-plus innings and allowed two runs on six hits and five walks while striking out three for the Indians, who have won five of their past six.

Jeff Francoeur went 2-for-4 with three RBI -- including a two-run homer -- for Kansas City, which has now lost three of its last four.

Luke Hochevar (2-2) carried a perfect game into the sixth inning, but it was broken up by a leadoff Michael Brantley single. Hochevar allowed four runs on five hits, one walk and two balks in the inning. He pitched into the seventh and was charged with six runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four.

Alex Gordon tripled to right in the first to score Melky Cabrera and Francoeur followed with a single that scored Gordon to give the Royals an early 2-0 lead.

After Brantley led off the sixth with a single to end Hochevar's bid for a perfect game, he advanced to second on a balk and scored on a Matt LaPorta double. LaPorta moved to third on Hannahan's ground out and was brought home on the second balk by Hochevar.

"He was doing a great job tonight mixing his pitches up, mixing his speed up and hitting his spots. But we've got to give credit to our team. We just kept fighting against him and taking pitches. We really made him work. We just caught a break and ran with it," said LaPorta.

Asdrubal Cabrera singled and scored on Shin-Soo Choo's double. Travis Hafner then doubled two batters later to bring home Choo and give Cleveland a 4-2 lead.

Hannahan doubled to score Brantley and LaPorta in the seventh after they started the inning with back-to-back walks to force Hochevar from the game.

"His stuff for the first five innings was as good as I've ever seen him out there," said Kansas City manager Ned Yost. "Brantley led off the sixth with a hit and then it just unraveled."

Kansas City managed to load the bases in the bottom of the seventh with walks by Chris Getz and Melky Cabrera off of Masterson, and a Francoeur walk off of Indians reliever Vinnie Pestano. But the Royals failed to get anything out of it when Pestano struck out Mike Aviles to end the inning.

A Carlos Santana single scored Asdrubal Cabrera in the ninth to give Cleveland a five-run cushion.

Getz walked to lead off the ninth for the Royals and was brought home by a Melky Cabrera double. Francoeur followed two batters later with a bomb to left field that brought Kansas City within two.

Chris Perez entered the game with two outs to earn his 16th consecutive save dating back to August 12, 2010. He has six saves this season.

Game Notes

Francoeur extended his hit-streak to 10 games...Gordon extended his hit streak to 14 games...Cleveland now owns a two-game lead over Kansas City in the American League Central.