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Hochevar, Royals down Indians

Sep 4, 2011 - 3:31 AM Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Luke Hochevar struck out eight batters and gave up just three hits in eight innings Saturday, leading the Royals to a 5-1 win over the Indians.

Hochevar (10-10) won his second straight start while going at least eight innings for only the second time in 29 outings this season. He threw 79 of his 117 pitches for strikes and walked one.

Johnny Giavotella hit a solo homer and Jeff Francoeur had two hits, including a two-run double, for the Royals, who have won four of their last seven.

David Huff (2-3) took the loss after giving up five runs -- four earned -- on six hits and a walk in six innings. He fanned three.

The Indians scored their only run on Carlos Santana's sacrifice fly in the first inning and dropped 6 1/2 behind Detroit for first place in the AL Central.

"It's our team. We can't sit here and complain," said Cleveland manager Manny Acta. "They (the Royals) ran out there four guys that were in Omaha. We run five that were in Columbus, so you've just got to get out there and fight and try to win the ballgame."

They played without shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who fouled a ball off his left knee during Cleveland's 5-4 win in the opener of this three-game series on Friday. Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the same at-bat and came out of the game afterward, but isn't expected to miss any more time.

After Santana's sac fly gave Cleveland the early lead, Francoeur hit a two-run double in the bottom of the first inning to move Kansas City ahead for good.

"That was big. I cost myself that run in the first, then to turn around and get two like that, that's big," said Hochevar.

The Royals scratched out a run in the second inning after Salvador Perez reached on an error, went to third on Chris Getz's single and scored when Alex Gordon grounded into a force play.

Gordon drew a one-out walk in the fifth and scored on Billy Butler's double to make it 4-1 and Giavotella belted his second homer of the season in the sixth for the final margin.

Hochevar retired the side in order in his final inning and Greg Holland pitched a perfect ninth to preserve the win.

Game Notes

The Royals improved to 6-11 against the Indians this season...Kansas City was 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base. The Indians went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and stranded four.