Kellermann-Strauss Forum » ... Cleveland relievers have stranded a major l

CLEVELAND -- With seven games still left this month, Jason Kipnis has already surpassed his statistics from last April. That wasnt hard to do. "I set the bar so low," he said. Kipnis drove in Nick Swisher from first base with a two-out double in the seventh inning, sending the Cleveland Indians to a 5-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night. Kipnis, who batted just .200 with one homer and four RBIs in the seasons first month in 2013, ripped his double off Kelvin Herrera (0-1) into the gap in right-centre, deep enough to easily score Swisher, who reached on a two-out single. "That was a real big hit," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "Sometimes you need a big hit at a big time and we got it tonight." Kipnis has become big time. After shaking off his horribly slow start last season, he made his first All-Star team, batted .284 and developed into one of the ALs top all-around players. So, when he came up in another clutch situation, it wasnt surprising to any of the Indians that Kipnis came through. Kipnis signed a six-year, $52.5 million contract on opening day and hes wasted no time in living up to the deal. "I think he has less far to climb this year," Francona said. "He really dug himself a hole last year. Hes always a threat, whether its against a left-hander or right-hander. He can hit the ball all over the field or out of the ballpark. He can beat you with his legs. "I dont really look up and see what Kips batting average is, we want him hitting all the time." The Indians tacked on an important insurance run in the eighth on pinch-hitter Lonnie Chisenhalls bloop RBI single. Bryan Shaw (1-0) finished the seventh and got one out in the eighth. Cody Allen retired two, and John Axford worked the ninth for his AL-leading eighth save. Michael Bourn had three hits and two RBIs for the Indians. Bourn, Nick Swisher and Kipnis, Clevelands 1-2-3 hitters, combined for six hits and three RBIs. Salvador Perez and Mike Moustakas hit back-to-back homers in the second for Kansas City. Indians starter Justin Masterson remained winless through five starts. The staffs ace, who turned down a contract extension during spring training, allowed two earned runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings. "Ill take as many no-decisions as come as long as were winning," he said. Down 3-2, the Indians tied it in the sixth off lefty starter Jason Vargas when Michael Brantley scored from first on two Kansas City errors. Brantley singled with one out, and broke for second with two down and Yan Gomes batting. As Brantley slid safely into second, the throw from catcher Perez skipped into centre field. Brantley hustled toward third and centre fielder Jarrod Dyson took his eye off the ball, overrunning it and letting the tying run score. "I came in too hard," Dyson said. "I should have come in and played it off the hop because I probably didnt have a shot at him anyway. I have to remind myself to slow the body down. I came in crashing like that. When you have two outs and your pitcher up there doing his thing you kind of have to settle down and not make that mistake." Moustakas gave the Royals a 3-2 lead in the sixth, when an error by second baseman Kipnis helped set up Kansas Citys unearned go-ahead run. Eric Hosmer singled and was safe at second after Kipnis dropped shortstop Asdrubal Cabreras low throw. Hosmer moved to third on a fielders choice and Moustakas delivered his two-out RBI single. Bourn atoned for a baserunning blunder with a two-run triple in the second to tie it 2-2. Perez and Moustakas connected in the second off Masterson. With one out, Perez snapped an 0-for-22 slump with a drive over the centre-field wall for his first homer. Four pitches later, Moustakas made it 2-0 with a liner into the Royals bullpen, the same place he hit a three-run shot on Tuesday in Kansas Citys 8-2 win. NOTES: Sloppy play has been one of Clevelands main problems. The Indians came in tied for the AL lead with 20 errors. "As a team, we have not played very good defence yet," Francona said. "I think we will be better. We need to be better. Were that type of team where when we play clean baseball, we generally give ourselves a chance to win. When you give a team extra outs or extra opportunities, it certainly makes it tougher." ... Indians 3B/DH Carlos Santana is in a 2-for-46 (.043) slide. ... Cleveland relievers have stranded a major league-best 91 per cent (32 of 35) of runners inherited. Omer Asik Jersey . Minutes before the final whistle of Sporting Kansas Citys 3-0 victory over a shorthanded Montreal Impact squad on Saturday afternoon, Saputo tweeted: "Our fans deserve better. Cheap Bulls Jerseys Authentic . - Henrik Samuelsson and Curtis Lazar each had two goals and two assists as the Edmonton Oil Kings secured top spot in the Eastern Conference by defeating the host Red Deer Rebels 7-4 on Saturday in Western Hockey League action. http://www.cheapbullsjerseys.com/?tag=ch...i-parker-jersey. The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. Bobby Portis Jersey . Costa Rica followed up its wins over Uruguay and Italy by holding England to a dour 0-0 draw on Tuesday, enough to finish first in Group D. Lauri Markkanen Jersey . The Miami Heat star tops the leagues global list of top-selling jerseys for the 2012-13 season, edging Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder and James Heat teammate Dwyane Wade for the No.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Boston Celtics aim to get back in the win column when they visit the Charlotte Hornets Wednesday at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Celtics won all three games on a recent homestand and the streak came to an end with Mondays 133-132 double-overtime road setback to the Washington Wizards. Boston rallied from a 23-point deficit in the third quarter and outscored the Wizards, 34-18, in the final stanza to force overtime. Wizards guard John Wall scored the last 10 points for Washington in the second OT and handed out a career-high 17 assists to go with 26 points. Former Celtics star Paul Pierce scored 28 points. Those transition baskets killed us, both overtimes, Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. John Wall killed us in transition. Jeff Green led Boston with 28 points, rookie Marcus Smart added a career-high 23 and Kelly Olynyk finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Brandon Bass and Evan Turner scored 19 and 18 points, respectively, for the Celtics, who shot 46.1 percent and posted 32 points on 23 Washington turnovers. Rajon Rondo had no points and four assists in 20 minutes of action. Rondo was more of a spectator for how well Bostons reserves were playing. Those guys deserved to play at the end because they got us right back in it, Stevens said of the bench.dddddddddddd After visiting the Hornets, the Celtics will return home to host rival New York Friday night at TD Garden. Boston is 2-5 on the road. Charlotte ended a 10-game losing streak with a 103-102 triumph over the Knicks on Friday and will close out a three-game homestand. Kemba Walkers layup with 0.3 seconds to play lifted the Hornets to their first victory since Nov. 14 at Phoenix. Knicks star Carmelo Anthony gave his team a 102-101 lead off an open 3-pointer with 40.7 seconds to play. Each team missed a jump shot and the Hornets took a timeout with four seconds to play after Marvin Williams rebounded Anthonys miss. Walker then took the inbounds pass and scurried through the lane. I just saw an open lane ... I knew I had to get to the basket in a hurry and I was able to get a shot up, Walker said. Gerald Henderson finished with a season-high 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting, Al Jefferson had 16 points and 13 rebounds, and Lance Stephenson also scored 16 points for Charlotte. The Hornets are 4-7 at The Hive and will visit the Memphis Grizzlies Friday. Charlotte and Boston will play the first of four meetings this season. The Celtics took two of three matchups with Charlotte last season. ' ' '