The Cleveland Indians seem headed for the postseason, barring a sudden collapse, but starting pitcher Danny Salazar’s arm injury is clearly not good news.
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The Twins, who entered the series with a 17-32 record on the road and 20 games behind in the division standings, have taken the first two games of a four-game set that the Indians can no longer win. Kepler’s fourth two-run home run of the series and 15th round-tripper of the season traveled 435 feet. The Indians rallied with a six-run fifth inning, knocking Gibson out of the game.
Cleveland Indians’ Jose Ramirez scores on a wild pitch by Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Tyler Duffey (56) during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, in Cleveland.
It’s fair to say that what Minnesota Twins rookie right fielder Max Kepler is doing is a bit surprising.
Salazar (11-4) gave up six runs in two innings, the shortest start of his major league career.
The Cleveland Indians will be without all-star pitcher Danny Salazar for two to three weeks, a blow to the momentum of the AL Central leaders. No starter has lasted more than 3.1 innings in these three games, although Cody Anderson has thrown 4.2 innings of relief.
It also was the Twins’ eighth double-digit output of the season, all of them coming since June 21.
Kepler, who hit three home runs in Monday’s game, homered in the third inning Tuesday.
In that last at bat, Kepler faced Andrew Miller, who was acquired by Cleveland on Sunday in a trade with the Yankees.
The Padres had three consecutive hits with runners in scoring position while wiping out a 2-1 deficit in the fifth to break out of a situational-hitting slump. The rookie right-hander, recalled from Triple-A Rochester before the game, allowed four hits in six innings.
Miller received a standing ovation as he took the mound to start the eighth, then gave up a leadoff homer to Joe Mauer.
In other words, who’s heating up on fire (Max Kepler) and who is cooling off.
Eduardo Escobar’s two-run homer in the ninth provided breathing room.
“I wasn’t trying for home runs”, he said.
“It was historic”, said Minnesota Twins manager Paul Molitor. “It’s fun to watch a young kid figure things out”. “Those balls basically are line drives that went really far”. The second-year slugger was benched on Tuesday and has just three hits in his last 19 at-bats. Gibson allowed six runs in 4 2/3 innings.
The Cleveland Indians still can not figure out the Minnesota Twins, and it cost them their third blowout loss in a row.
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“There’s something in my elbow that’s been there for a while, but it’s getting worse”, Salazar told media, including Dulik.
