LaPorta’s HR beats Twins

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Matt LaPorta homered leading off the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Cleveland Indians a 7-6 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.

LaPorta connected for his sixth homer off Matt Guerrier (2-7) after the Twins had tied it in the top half on a two-run single by Alexei Casilla off closer Chris Perez (1-2). Casilla had a career-high four RBIs.

The game-tying hit off Perez, who had not allowed a run over 15 outings since June 28, came after pinch-hitter Jim Thome had an apparent home run ruled a double. The umpires used replay to uphold their call after Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire protested. Some television angles showed the ball appeared to hit a railing above the yellow home-run line atop the wall in left-center.

Perez was seeking his ninth consecutive save and 14th in 17 chances.

Asdrubal Cabrera and Jayson Nix both had three hits for Cleveland, which handed the Twins their fourth loss in 16 games. Minnesota remained 11/2 games behind first-place Chicago in the AL Central.

Shelley Duncan had a two-run double in Cleveland’s three-run first inning off Francisco Liriano, breaking the left-hander’s 21-inning scoreless streak.