Tribe’s Naquin hits two homers in win over Kansas City

Associated Press

GOODYEAR, ARIZ.

Tyler Naquin homered twice and Francisco Lindor and Jason Kipnis also homered, powering the Cleveland Indians to a 7-6 win over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.

Naquin, the Indians’ first pick in the 2012 draft, hit his first two home runs of the spring. He also doubled and scored on an RBI single by Mike Napoli.

“Naquin’s doing everything he can do,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “We’ll get to a point where we start to do some things. You don’t want to do them too early, but he’s done a really good job.”

Lindor and Kipnis hit consecutive homers in the first inning. It was the first for Lindor and third for Kipnis, who also tripled and scored in the third.

Napoli signed with the Indians to play first base and designated hitter along with Carlos Santana. Napoli is hitting .455 this spring.

Mike Moustakas homered and Reymond Fuentes singled with the bases loaded off Danny Salazar for the Royals in a six-run third inning. Salvador Perez had two hits.

Salazar allowed six runs, five earned, in 21/3 innings.

“Salazar had a rough day. I think he’s better than that,” Francona said. “I hope this doesn’t get in the way of his progression. We wanted him to go five. (Pitching coach) Mickey (Callaway) told him to go work on his legs.”

Kris Medlen allowed four home runs in 31/3 innings. He struck out four.

“The center fielder (Naquin), the young dude they have, has such a great swing,” Medlen said. “Every mistake I made with the heater was absolutely smashed. I tried to go down and away to him (Naquin) and he absolutely smacked it. Then I tried to go in and he absolutely smacked it.”

STARTING TIME

Royals: Medlen struck out six, but gave up five earned runs.

“I felt like my stuff was there,” Medlen said. “You don’t like to get tatered like that, but at the same you want to be aggressive. I was a little over aggressive at times. I was encouraged with my changeup. I threw 75 pitches and felt I had more in the tank.”

Indians: Danny Salazar lasted just 21/3 innings in giving up five earned runs for the second straight outing. He allowed five in four innings to Cincinnati in his previous start.

“I was getting the ball up, then some of the pitches went in the dirt because I was trying to throw strikes,” Salazar said. “I was being a little more aggressive. This helps me learn for the next time.”

ROSTER MOVES

Indians: Optioned RHP Felipe Paulino to Triple-A Columbus.