In the tenth inning Tim Collins came on for Kansas City in relief of Joakim Soria and immediately walked Carlos Santana. Shelly Duncan then pinch-hit for Travis Buck and doubled to left, scoring Santana all the way from first and putting the Tribe ahead 4-3.
Orlando Cabrera could not get the runner to third, flying out to right center, but then Michael Brantley walked, putting two on with still only one out. Adam Everett came on for the Tribe to pinch-run for Duncan — becoming the Indians’ fourth designated hitter of the night.
Matt LaPorta grounded out, but Alcides Escobar’s error on the play allowed Everett to score from second, giving the Tribe a huge insurance run.
Then Jack Hannahan broke out with a double, scoring LaPorta all the way from first, and suddenly the Tribe led 6-3.
Grady Sizemore followed with an infield single and Hannahan scored as the Royals began to crumble, as the Cleveland lead stretched to 7-3. It was Sizemore’s third hit of the night, and left him with a .556 average in two games. Then Asdrubal Cabrera singled and runners were at the corners. Shin-Soo Choo, the ninth batter of the inning, struck out to end the outburst, but what was a tie game suddenly became a game wherein there was not a save situation entering the bottom of the tenth.
Justin Germano replaced Joe Smith in the bottom of the tenth and set the Royals down in order.
And the Indians improved to 12-4 and extended their lead to two games.
Joe Smith got the win for his first decision of the season, while Tim Collins (1-1) took the loss, as the Indians look to tomorrow night, when Jeanmar Gomez gets the start in place of Mitch Talbot. It will be Gomez’s first appearance of the season.