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Gomes powers Indians past Twins

Sep 21, 2014 - 6:50 AM Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - Yan Gomes went 3-for-4 with a homer and four RBI to lead the Cleveland Indians to a 7-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

Mike Aviles added a two-run triple and David Murphy finished 2-for-3 with a run scored to help keep Cleveland's within striking distance in the AL Wild Card race. With both Oakland and Kansas City losing on Saturday, the Indians moved within 3 1/2 games of the two leaders.

T.J. House (4-3) allowed two runs while striking out five over five-plus innings to earn the win.

"Maybe it's that time of year, but it never seems like it's enough (runs)," said Indians manager Terry Francona said.

Brian Dozier ended 3-for-4 with a solo homer to pace Minnesota offensively. Starter Trevor May (3-5) was blasted for seven runs over 4 2/3 innings.

"I was trying to get ahead as much as possible. The biggest thing is putting guys away," said May.

Aviles staked the Indians to an early lead by belting a two-run triple in the top of the second inning after Gomes had reached on a single and moved to third on Murphy's double. Michael Bourn followed with an infield hit that increased the margin to 3-0.

The Twins got a run back in the bottom of the frame. After loading the bases on singles by Trevor Plouffe and Kurt Suzuki and a walk, Cleveland couldn't turn a double play on Jordan Schafer's grounder as Plouffe crossed the plate.

Michael Brantley then opened the Indians' half of the third with a double and later came around on Gomes' second hit of the night to restore Cleveland's three-run cushion, which was cut back to two when Dozier doubled in the bottom of the inning and came home on groundouts by Joe Mauer and Kennys Vargas.

May got in a jam in the fifth, however, surrendering a single to Jose Ramirez and a two-out walk to Lonnie Chisenhall before Gomes deposited his final pitch over the center-field wall to give the Indians a 7-2 advantage.

Zach McAllister struck out five over two scoreless innings in relief of House, though Dozier homered off Nick Hagadone in the eighth to account for the final margin.

Game Notes

Brantley went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, but Minnesota's Oswaldo Arcia was 0-for-3 and had an eight-game streak halted ... House improved to 3-0 in four meetings with Minnesota this season, having fired seven shutout innings against the Twins in his previous start ... Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis sat out a second straight game with a hamstring injury.