Minnesota Twins right fielder Max Kepler (26) hits his second home run of the game during the third inning against the Cleveland Indians Monday night at Progressive Field.
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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.
Having shaved their deficit from eight runs to two, the Indians’ attempted comeback stalled there as they were held scoreless in the last four innings by the Minnesota bullpen. “It can come back to hurt you when you get ahead of a hitter like that and you can’t put them away or use the count in your favor”.
“I think he’s been reluctant to let it loose because he’s anxious he’ll feel something in the elbow”, Francona said. “I’m going to work really hard before my next start because I have to be better than tonight”. Mike Napoli followed with a solo shot in the sixth, his 27th on the year, which marked the fifth straight game in which he’s hit a home run.
Despite a 6-21 record against the rest of the AL Central, Minnesota moved to 8-4 against the Indians with a 13-5 win on Wednesday night. Escobar was thrown out at the plate by shortstop Francisco Lindor on a grounder hit by Santana.
“They’ve done it to us three days in a row”. According to Elias Sports Bureau research, it’s the first time in franchise history that they’ve had at least nine extra-base hits in consecutive games. 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.
Napoli’s home run traveled an estimated 454 feet and landed three rows from the top of the bleachers in left field.
The hits and runs just keep on coming for the Minnesota Twins, and that’s just fine with manager Paul Molitor. By the time the first frame was done and accounted for, Bauer was already over 30 pitches and two Twins runners had crossed the plate.
Mauer, who has lifted his average 16 points to.277 in three games, later added a two-run double on a 0-2 count. “Things snowballed on him and he couldn’t stop it”. The Indians rallied with a six-run fifth inning, knocking Gibson out of the game.
5 2/3 innings. Right-hander Tyler Thornburg struck out two in a ideal ninth to earn his third save.
Outfielder Brandon Guyer, acquired from Tampa Bay on Monday, was added to the 25-man roster. He did not play.
While manager Terry Francona doesn’t think Salazar looks hurt, the pitcher wants to get it checked out.
Indians: RHP Mike Clevinger will be called up from Triple-A Columbus to start against the Twins. Josh Tomlin, originally scheduled to start Thursday, will start Friday against the Yankees in NY.
Indians: RHP Tommy Hunter (broken vertebrae) threw off a mound before the game. The reliever has been on the DL since July 17. Chisenhall later scored on a two-out single by Abraham Almonte, cutting the Twins’ lead to 3-2. The rookie right-hander, recalled from Triple-A Rochester before the game, allowed four hits in six innings.
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Indians: RHP Trevor Bauer will face Minnesota for the 10th time in his career.
