Dozier made the tag for… He gave up six runs in two innings of a 12-5 loss to Minnesota one night earlier.
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Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler turned in a historic performance during Monday’s 12-5 win over the Cleveland Indians, becoming the first rookie in franchise history to hit three home runs in a single game, per Sportsnet Stats.
CLEVELAND (AP) – The frustration boiled over for the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night.
The Indians have been tormented by the last-place Minnesota Twins all year and this week, it has only been magnified.
“They’ve beat us around”, said Indians manager Terry Francona. After watching their lead get cut to 3-2 after the second inning, the Twins scored five in the third inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Joe Mauer and a two-run single from Max Kepler. “I want to find out what’s going on, so I know what’s in there”.
Fox Sports Time Ohio analyst Rick Manning said: “I have not seen a team swing the bats like this in a long, long time”. “It’s inevitable. It happens to everybody”.
Indians All-Star RHP Danny Salazar has been placed on the 15-day DL with right elbow inflammation. On July 20, the Indians led the division by 7½ games.
“We play a game that’s unpredictable in a lot of ways”, Molitor said. “Through 162 games you’re going to have stretches like this. It’s about minimizing them”.
Lance McCullers (6-5) allowed two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. In the series, Mauer is 10-for-15 with five doubles, a triple, a home run and six RBIs. On Tuesday, Minnesota Carrasco for eight runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings.
The lone bright spots for Cleveland were Mike Napoli and rookie Tyler Naquin.
Kepler was credited with a two-run single that gave Minnesota an 8-2 lead. After second baseman Brian Dozier walked to load the bases later in the inning, Mauer hit a double to left-center field that drove in catcher Juan Centeno and Santana.
Dozier homered in the ninth.
“I’m honored to be in that group”, said Kepler, who came into the game with 11 home runs and came out of it with 14. Chisenhall attempted to make a diving catch, and Francona immediately challenged the call.
The hits and runs just keep on coming for the Minnesota Twins, and that’s just fine with manager Paul Molitor.
“You can understand the reaction because that’s a big play in the game”, he said. First-base umpire Jim Reynolds, however, ruled it no catch. They banged out three more hits on that count in a five-run third against Trevor Bauer (7-5), including back-to-back hits from Eddie Rosario (single) and Eduardo Escobar (double off the wall) to start the inning.
The Indians bullpen is absolutely taxed at this point, though. Right-handers Austin Adams, Shawn Armstrong and Cody Anderson, who have all been used in relief, were sent to Triple-A Columbus.
Indians: OF Michael Brantley (right shoulder) hit off a pitching machine Monday, but there is no timetable for his return.
The Twins took the opener of the four-game series with 19 hits, matching a season high.
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The Cleveland Indians have recalled right-hander Mike Clevinger from Triple-A Columbus to start Thursday against the Minnesota Twins.
