Cleveland Indians Outslug the Minnesota Twins in 7-6 Victory

Cleveland Indians Beat the Minnesota Twins in Slugfest 7-6

The Cleveland Indians beat the visiting Minnesota Twins in a slugfest last night by a score of 7-6. The two teams combined to his five home runs in the game, three by the Twins and a pair by the Indians. The win puts the Indians at 17-15 on the year while the loss drops the Minnesota Twins to a Major League worst 8-26.

Tribe starter Josh Tomlin got off to a rough start in this one, giving up a trio of home runs in the first three innings in route to allowing four runs (three earned). However, he battled after those first three innings, managing to go 6 1/3 innings and retiring the last 12 Twins’ hitters he faced. He allowed only four hits on the night (though three went for homers) while walking two and striking out four. While it wasn’t the prettiest start for him, it was another quality start as he remained unbeaten following a Tribe loss the last two years (12-0), taking a no-decision.

Offensively the Indians helped out Josh Tomlin with a two-run home run from Yan Gomes in the second inning that tied the game up at two a piece at the time. It was a huge hit for Gomes, who has been struggling immensely the last few weeks. After the Twins regained the lead on Byung Ho Park’s two-run homer in the 3rd inning (his second of the game), Jason Kipnis reduced the deficit to one in the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run to dead center field.

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The score remained 4-3 Twins until the bottom of the 6th inning when the Tribe loaded the bases with one out for veteran Marlon Byrd who ripped a liner to right field that nearly got over Miguel Sano‘s head but instead went for a game-tying sac fly. That was all the Indians were able to get though as Gomes few out to center ending the threat.

The Indians weren’t able to keep it a tie game, however, as reliever Bryan Shaw gave up a leadoff home run to Eduardo Perez in the 8th inning, giving the Twins a 5-4 lead. Shaw then loaded the bases with only one out and gave way to Zach McAllister, who was able to get the next two Twins hitters to strike out, keeping the deficit at just one run. This turned out to be one of the biggest keys in the game as it kept the game in a manageable situation for the offense…

In the bottom half the 8th, the Indians erupted for three runs to take their first lead of the night 7-5. After a leadoff single by Francisco Lindor and a walk to Jose Ramirez, Byrd once again came through for the Tribe, this time with a huge two-run double just over the head of Twins centerfielder Danny Santana. The Indians weren’t done yet though as Juan Uribe came through with a huge insurance run on a two-out RBI single to right field, scoring pinch-runner Tyler Naquin. Uribe was able to add a big run and make amends for an error that led to an unearned run earlier in the game.

That extra run turned out to be the difference in the game after closer Cody Allen gave up one run in the 9th but was able to work out of a jam and get Park to strikeout with the tying run on third base and go-ahead run on first. It wasn’t pretty, but Allen picked up his ninth save on the season while McAllister got the victory moving to 2-1 on the year. Twins reliever Trevor May took the loss, his second on the season (0-2).

Next: Indians-Twins Series Preview

The Indians and Twins go back at it this afternoon in a 4:10 pm start at Progressive Field. For the Indians, Corey Kluber will be on the hill looking to put his last start behind him when he couldn’t get out of the third inning. The Twins will send veteran righty Ervin Santana to the hill who will be looking for his first win on the season.

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