Tribe gets solid efforts from Laffey and Wood

By PAUL HOYNES

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kerry Wood earned his first save. Aaron Laffey earned another start and the Indians finally looked like an opportunistic team Wednesday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.

Manager Eric Wedge talked to the struggling Indians after Tuesday’s 9-3 loss to the Royals. They were 1-7 and had lost six straight road games.

“They were pretty beat up,” said Wedge.

He didn’t rant or rave. He offered encouragement.

“The effort has been good,” said Wedge. “The energy has been good and the attitude has been good. Now we have to perform.”

Laffey, activated before the game after opening the season at Class AAA Columbus, pitched out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the first inning. Then he shifted into overdrive until a bad throw by Shin-Soo Choo forced Wedge to go to the bullpen in the sixth.

Laffey allowed two runs on three hits in 51‚Ñ3 innings. He struck out five and walked three.

Wood had to wait for his first save situation as an Indian. When it arrived, he took care of things quickly, retiring the Royals in order.

Laffey entered the sixth with a 2-0 lead against Sidney Ponson. RBI singles by Grady Sizemore in the third and Ryan Garko in the sixth accounted for the lead.

Coco Crisp worked Laffey for a leadoff walk and Willie Bloomquist singled to right. Choo tried to get the swift Crisp at third, but had no chance as Bloomquist advanced to second to take away the double play.

“Choo can make that throw,” said Wedge, “but he’s got to make it low enough so the cutoff man can get it.”

David DeJesus’ grounder to second, which would have been a double-play ball, made it 2-1. Joe Smith relieved to face John Buck, who hit two homers Tuesday. Smith struck out Buck after falling behind, 3-0.

With lefty Rafael Perez struggling, Wedge brought in right-hander Jensen Lewis to face what turned out to be three straight lefties. Lewis walked all three, eventually forcing home Bloomquist with the tying run.

The Indians reclaimed the lead, 5-2, with three runs in the seventh. Mark DeRosa, Travis Hafner and Choo delivered the runs.

Lewis (1-0) gave up an RBI single to Bloomquist in the seventh and a homer to Mike Jacobs in the eighth to make 5-4. Jacobs’ homer would have tied the game if Mark Teahen hadn’t tried to stretch a single into a double to start the inning. Choo threw him out at second.