Cleveland Indians: LaPorta Caps Wild Night With Walk - Off Blast

8 - 6 - 10     vs. Minnesota     W, 7 - 6     47 - 63

     It took Matt LaPorta all of two pitches to atone for a mistake he had made just moments earlier.  In the top of the 9th, the Indians' first baseman made a poor decision by cutting a throw off at the mound, robbing the Tribe of a chance to cut down the tying run at the plate.  Now, with the game tied at six, LaPorta picked out a fastball that was up and out over the plate, and he drove it over the left - center field wall to give Cleveland their fifth walk - off win of the season, and the first by - way of a long ball.
     The Indians appeared to be in complete control after two innings because they had built up a 4 - 0 lead.  The key blows were a two - run double off the bat of Shelley Duncan and a RBI single that was contributed by Asdrubal Cabrera.
     Even though the Twins began to rally in the middle frames, the Tribe still took a 6 - 4 lead into the 9th thanks to a couple of big RBI doubles from Shin - Soo Choo that gave the home team the insurance they so desperately needed.
     Uncharacteristically, Chris Perez blew the save in the 9th as Alexi Casilla drilled a two - run single right back up the middle.  But, as has already been mentioned, if LaPorta would have allowed Michael Brantley's throw to travel all the way to the dish, the second base runner, Trevor Plouffe, would probably have been out, and the Indians would have won the game right there.  However, I don't think anyone is complaining about LaPorta's game - winning home run, and, as the saying goes, all is well that ends well.