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Three-run shot by Gutierrez leads Indians past Royals

Aug 21, 2008 - 4:02 AM By Todd Krepop PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Franklin Gutierrez is doing the best he can to make sure his rough season ends on a positive note.

Gutierrez's eighth-inning, three-run homer capped a power surge and lifted the Cleveland Indians past the Kansas City Royals, 8-5, on Wednesday.

Kelly Shoppach hit a pair of home runs and Jhonny Peralta also launched a shot for the Indians, who have won four of their last five.

"The approach has been better," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "All the hard work they are putting in is translating into the games."

Juan Rincon (3-3) pitched a scoreless eighth to pick up the victory and Jensen Lewis shut down the Royals in order in the ninth for his fourth save.

Shoppach started Cleveland's five-run rally in the eighth with a leadoff homer. After a pair of walks and a sacrifice, Gutierrez belted a chest-high fastball from Royals closer Joakim Soria over the left field wall for his seventh home run.

"I was trying to go to the opposite field and hit the ball good," Gutierrez said. "(Soria) normally throws outside, but he came inside."

It was the first homer given up by Soria (1-3) since July 7, which also marked the last time he blew a save.

"Every blown save is tough," Soria said. "Sometimes it is going to happen."

After a rough first four months, Gutierrez has found his stride in August. The 25-year-old outfielder endured an 0-for-32 slump in June and July, but is batting .346 in August with three home runs and 10 RBI.

"It feels good," Gutierrez said. "It has been a tough season for me. I have been working hard and I think I am making good adjustments."

"Gutierrez really stepped up for us," Wedge said. "It doesn't get much bigger than that, down a couple of runs and to hit a three-run homer."

Ryan Garko followed with an RBI single to cap the outburst for the Indians, who sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning.

Soria's third blown save in 36 opportunities wasted a superb effort from starter Gil Meche, who held the Indians to three runs - one earned - and two hits in seven innings. The veteran righthander struck out nine and retired the last 17 batters he faced, but was lifted after 104 pitches.

"I felt fine," Meche said. "I felt good. That was a game we should have won."

Kansas City manager Trey Hillman defended removing Meche.

"(Meche) is over 100 pitches," Hillman said. "It's late in the season. He's not going to have any extra rest. We're already falling apart with our rotation. I don't understand why there would be second-guessing. If people want to second guess, that's fine."

Kansas City scored four in the fifth to take a 5-3 lead, but the runs came at a price.

Mitch Maier was forced to leave the game in the fifth after being hit in the face by a pitch from Zach Jackson.

With runners on first and second and none out, Maier attempted to sacrifice but could not get out of the way of the pitch. The ball swiped the right side of Maier's face, and he crumpled to ground with blood pouring out of his nose.

Maier eventually walked off the field under his own power with a towel on his face. He was taken to a local hospital and diagnosed with three fractures on the right side of his face.

"It was a pitch that got away," Jackson said. "I was trying to go down and away and it backed up on me. It was a cutter that slipped out of my hand."

Mike Aviles followed the beaning with a three-run double and came around to score on Shoppach's throwing error as Kansas City grabbed a 5-3 advantage.

Peralta had belted a two-run shot in the first to give Cleveland a 2-1 lead and Shoppach swatted the first of his two solo homers an inning later.