Torii Hunter hit a solo home run off Bryan Shaw with one out in the ninth inning Friday, giving the Minnesota Twins a 10-9 victory over Cleveland. A sacrifice fly by catcher Yan Gomes and a two-out RBI single by right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall cut the Minnesota lead to 6-4.
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Indians: Cleveland opens a three-game home series against the Yankees on Tuesday.
A roaring start from the slumbering offense was immediately wasted by Mike Pelfrey, but in spite of all that, the Twins clawed their way back to defeat Cleveland 10-9 while wearing some Dairy Queen giveaway jerseys. The Indians acquired the switch-hitting Almonte on July 31 from San Diego for left-hander Marc Rzepczynski. Abraham Almonte, in his first game as an Indian, went 4-for-5 with two doubles and a two-run homer to cap the night in the eighth. The Twins jumped to a 6-0 lead and then gave it all back and then some, as Cleveland was once in control, 9-7.
Almonte was told Friday night he was being called up and made the 2½-hour drive to Cleveland.
Twins manager Paul Molitor, who had already gone through six pitchers, used outfielder Shane Robinson to finish the eighth.
Trevor Bauer (9-8) won for the first time since July 8, allowing four runs in 6 1-3 innings.
“We had some tension in that dugout”, he said.
Hunter ended the day 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, 3 RBI, 3 runs, and a stolen base.
A fire in a building behind Progressive Field’s garage broke out about 45 minutes before the game started, but it was under control about 30 minutes later, and the game began on time. His only victory occurred on July 27, 2011, when he no-hit the Indians while pitching for the Angels.
“(He’s been) just a little bit inconsistent in what he’s doing, still working on the breaking ball to the right-handed hitters that needs to get off of guys that cover the plate”, Francona said.
“I’ve always wanted to do that in the majors, so now I can cross that off my bucket list”, said Robinson, who became the first Twins position player to pitch since Jamey Carroll on August 5, 2013. If I’m in person, I’m more apt to stick around and enjoy the park and the people.
I really wanted to help this ballclub out and try to give a boost.
Indians: RHP Cody Anderson (left oblique strain) was placed on the 15-day DL.
Twins: OF Byron Buxton (left thumb sprain) reported no physical problems following the first game of his minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester.
Hopefully they can get to Kluber early and Hughes has his “A” stuff, and the Twins can end this miserable voyage away from home with a win.
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Minnesota are 3-14 in their last 17 games as an underdog and are 2-8 in their last 10 road games while the under is 10-4-2 in their last 16 road games. He also leads the league in hits allowed (163) and issues the fewest walks per nine innings (0.9). The Indians are slated to start Corey Kluber against visiting Minnesota in Sunday action. The reigning AL Cy Young Award victor is 4-2 with a 3.80 ERA in 11 career appearances against the Twins.
