Asdrubal Cabrera was the hero of the Indians' 4-3 10-inning victory over Kansas City on Saturday night, but another solid start by rookie Jeanmar Gomez helped make the win a reality.
UPDATED: 11:28 p.m.
Asdrubal Cabrera's first big-league walkoff home run earned a hero's welcome at home plate after his blast gave the Indians a 4-3 win in 10 innings over Kansas City.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jeanmar Gomez, before he talks about his performance following his starts, tells everyone with a microphone, tape record and pen and pencil, "I'd like to thank God for the giving me the opportunity to pitch."
The way manager Manny Acta saw things Saturday night after Asdrubal Cabrera homered to give the Indians a 4-3 victory in 10 innings over Kansas City at Progressive Field, the Indians should be thanking the skinny rookie from Venezuela.
"Asdrubal Cabrera played the hero," said Acta, "but the night belonged to Gomez. We wanted him to keep Kansas City down because we knew we weren't going to score a lot of runs against Zack Greinke."
The Indians have won three straight. That's called a winning streak in most parts of the big leagues, but it's something the Indians haven't done since July 31-Aug. 2.
Cabrera, who says his swing still isn't full recovered from having surgery in May to repair his broken left forearm, faced Jesse Chavez to start the 10th. Chavez was ahead in the count, 1-2, and Cabrera was trying to read his mind.
"I was looking for a fastball middle in," said Cabrera, batting left-handed. "He's got a really good fastball and I was looking for it."
Cabrera drove it to the right-field bullpen. As soon as ball met bat, he flipped the bat in celebration. As he came around third, he pointed to his wife, Lismar, in the stands.
The win went to Chris Perez (2-2), who pitched a scoreless 10th.
Until Cabrera's homer, Wilson Betemit put on an impressive one-man show to pull the Royals into a 3-3 tie. He hit a 434-foot, two-run homer in the in the sixth off Gomez to make it 3-2. In the eighth, he doubled off Rafael Perez to make it 3-3.
"Betemit hit a fastball right down the middle," said Gomez.
Gomez allowed two runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out four. It was quite a turnaround from his last start when he allowed eight runs on 11 hits in three innings against Detroit.
"That was good to see," said Acta. "He came right back and attacked the strike zone and pitched to contact."
The Indians scored early against Greinke and waited for Cabrera to save them at the end. Michael Brantley started the game with a double. Cabrera, playing for one run, bunted Brantley to third. Shin-Soo Choo made it 1-0 with a grounder to first for his 62nd RBI.
The Indians made it 3-0 in the second on Brantley's RBI single and Choo's bases-loaded walk. Matt LaPorta started the rally with a one-out double. Jason Donald struck out, but No.9 hitter Lou Marson walked. Brantley singled through the middle for a 2-0 lead.
Greinke, who entered with 38 walks and 148 strikeouts in 174 innings, walked Cabrera to load the bases and Choo to score Marson.
Greinke eventually found a different gear after the second. Gomez pitched well from the start, holding the Royals scoreless through the first five innings.
This was Gomez's seventh big-league start. He made his debut on July 18 after opening the year in Class AAA Columbus.
"To say he has taken advantage of his opportunity here is an understatement," said Acta.
The Indians didn't help themselves against Greinke with some questionable baserunning. Jayson Nix started the third by reaching on third baseman Willie Bloomquist's throwing error. When the ball got away from first baseman Kila Ka'aihue, Nix tried to go to second, but was an easy rundown victim.
Trevor Crowe followed with a single. He stole second and third, but Greinke struck out LaPorta and retired Donald on a grounder.
Choo walked with one out in the seventh, but was thrown out by catcher Jason Kendall attempting to steal second.
Greinke, 5-0 in his last nine starts against the Indians dating back to September 2008, didn't allow a run after the second. He was removed after eight innings and 111 pitches. He struck out four, walked four and allowed eight hits in three innings.