"Manny Acta knew he needed a roster spot for right-hander Jeanmar Gomez, who started against Oakland on Tuesday night.

He looked at the pitching staff. He had no idea how deep Gomez would go into Tuesday's game and didn't want to risk sending down a reliever. In the outfield, starters Michael Brantley, Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo were all injured. He couldn't afford to make a move there.

He looked at the infield. No excess baggage at third base or the middle infield, especially with Jason Kipnis on the disabled list and Jason Donald bobbing and weaving through an injury-filled season. Acta settled on first base, and that cost Matt LaPorta his spot in the big leagues.

The Indians, in surprising move, sent one of their few healthy right-handed hitters to Class AAA Columbus to make room for Gomez. LaPorta can return in 10 days. If the Indians put a player on the disabled list before that -- Choo, with a strained left oblique, is a candidate -- he can return sooner. "