Napoli brings the boom in win over Royals

CLEVELAND — The fans in the left-field bleachers seats need to be ready when Mike Napoli steps to the plate. Even if the Cleveland slugger goes down swinging, which he did in his first two at-bats on Saturday night, the next hack he takes might be a different story.

“Next thing you know, boom,” Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor said after the Tribe’s 7-1 victory over the Royals.

The boom arrived in the sixth inning on Saturday, when Napoli launched a solo home run over Progressive Field’s wall for his 13th long ball of the season. The first baseman’s showing against the Royals, who are now looking up at the first-place Tribe, served as a microcosm of his season to date: One home run, one walk and a pair of strikeouts.

Napoli’s combination of patience and power can be frustrating, because there are peaks (he has five homers, 11 RBIs and a .781 slugging percentage through nine games on this homestand, for example) and valleys (like when he struck out in eight straight at-bats from May 20-22). Cleveland knew the risk when it signed the veteran to a one-year pact over the winter, but the club also knew the potential reward.

So far, there has been enough of a feast to overcome the occasional famine.

“He’s smart enough to know that he’s going to strike out,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “He swings hard and he’s trying …

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