The Twins are expected to make his promotion official on Monday.
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CHICAGO – Addison Russell supplied a two-run single in the first inning and Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks took it from there en route to a complete-game shutout.
Rays starter Chris Archer (5-15) matched Duffy’s scoreless showing until the seventh, when Kendrys Morales hit a solo home run, his 17th on the season, with one out.
The 22-year-old righthander will meet the team in Cleveland.
The Minnesota Twins hit five home runs, including three by Max Kepler, who had six RBIs, as the Minnesota Twins routed the Cleveland Indians 12-5 Monday night at Progressive Field.
“There’s some feeling that it’s time to get him up here… that this would be a good thing for him to get back up here and see how he reacts”, Molitor said. “I was ecstatic. I’ve had two before in the minors and once up here”.
Kepler hit a two-run homer off Danny Salazar in the first inning, and a two-run homer off Salazar in the third. Mike Napoli hit his 25th homer of the season and Jose Ramirez had a pair of hits. With one out in the first inning Mauer walked and Kepler hit the first of his two home runs, giving the Twins a 2-0 lead.
In two innings Salazar gave up six hits and six runs with three strikeouts and two walks.
Joe Mauer had four hits and homered in the eighth off Andrew Miller, who was making his first appearance with Cleveland after being acquired Sunday from the Yankees. Berrios, who was 1-1 with a 10.20 ERA in four starts with the Twins earlier this season, could get the start in place of Duffey.
Salazar (11-4) gave up six runs in two innings, the shortest start of his major league career.
Kepler had two chances for a fourth home run, but said that wasn’t on his mind when he batted in the eighth and ninth. Mauer led off the inning with a single, and he rode home on Kepler’s second home run, a booming shot over the wall in center field, his 13th of the year. He does a really nice job.
Cleveland had its three-game winning streak snapped and had its lead in the AL Central Division cut to four games over Detroit. Minnesota is 6-4 vs. Cleveland and 6-21 against the rest of the AL Central.
But Eddie Rosario led off the top of the second inning by hitting a line drive into the seats in right field for his sixth home run, tying the game at 3.
Salazar (11-4) has been bothered by elbow pain for several weeks – it prevented him from playing in his first All-Star Game in San Diego. He has allowed 10 runs in six innings over his last two outings.
Indians manager Terry Francona admitted his ace hasn’t pitched well of late, but added, “He doesn’t look like somebody that’s hurt to me”.
“Being new, it made sense to get him out there, but not too much”, Francona said.
The Cleveland Indians, with their newly-configured bullpen, will host the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night in the second game of their four-game series.
“We play a game that’s unpredictable in a lot of ways”, Molitor said. You get a guy like Salazar out there facing a kid that just got called up.
Twins: OF Byron Buxton (right knee) is considered day-to-day after an MRI revealed no damage beyond an existing bone bruise. He pitched well in beating Kansas City on July 20 after going 10 days between starts, but has allowed 10 runs in six innings over his last two outings.
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Indians: RHP Carlos Carrasco is scheduled to make his 100th career start.
