Final
Twins-Indians Preview
Aug 8, 2015 - 4:48 AM For the Minnesota Twins, anywhere would've been better than Toronto. Few places have been more enjoyable for visiting teams lately than Cleveland.The Twins try to win two straight for the first time in two weeks Saturday night when they continue this three-game series against the last-place Indians.
Minnesota (55-54) probably couldn't wait to leave Toronto after it was outscored 26-12 in four consecutive defeats, giving it 14 losses in 18 games. That stretch dropped the Twins from the top of the wild-card race to three games behind the second spot.
It looked like Minnesota would easily end its five-game skid after scoring six runs in the third inning in Friday's series opener. The Indians, though, answered back with four runs in the bottom half and went ahead 9-7 with five more runs in the fourth.
After forging a 9-all tie with a run in the fifth and sixth, the Twins finally regained the lead on Torii Hunter's homer in the ninth and held on for the 10-9 win.
''This is not my first rodeo,'' Hunter said. ''I know how to bear down and get it done. That's what I did. I really wanted to help this ballclub out.''
Hunter fell a triple shy of the cycle and finished with three RBIs. Brian Dozier also homered and Eddie Rosario had a pair of triples for the Twins, who avoided falling under .500 for the first time since they were 11-12 on May 1.
Friday's loss was the fifth in six games for Cleveland (49-59), which has lost nine of 10 at home to fall to a major league-worst 20-33. The Indians are a season-high 10 games under .500.
Cleveland continued to overhaul its roster Friday, acquiring third baseman Chris Johnson from Atlanta in exchange for outfielders Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher. This trade follows the recent deals that shipped Brandon Moss, David Murphy and Marc Rzepczynski out of Cleveland.
''We can stay neutral or we can go backwards,'' manager Terry Francona said. ''None of those are very good options. Or we can take what's been thrown at us and try to get better, and learn and figure out how we want to be as a team. We want to move forward.''
Michael Brantley had three RBIs and has hit safely in 10 straight starts, batting .368 in those games. Brantley, though, is hitting .192 in 26 at-bats against Ervin Santana (2-2, 3.89 ERA), who looks to continue his excellent work on the road.
Santana is 2-1 with a 1.52 ERA in four starts away from home, pitching at least 7 2-3 innings in three of those games. The right-hander rebounded from his worst performance of the season with a much better outing in a 5-1 loss at Toronto on Monday, allowing three runs over six innings.
Although he's 3-9 with a 4.09 ERA in 17 starts against the Indians, Santana has posted a 1.61 ERA in the last four meetings.
Trevor Bauer (8-8, 3.98) seeks to end a personal three-game losing streak and record his first win in a month. The right-hander is 0-3 with a 4.91 ERA in his last four starts, but has allowed only three runs and nine hits over 15 2-3 innings in his past two.
Bauer more then held his own matched up with Oakland ace Sonny Gray on Sunday, yielding one run and four hits over 6 2-3 innings in a 2-1, 10-inning loss.
The Twins have been a difficult matchup for Bauer, who is 0-3 with a 6.07 ERA in five starts. He was tagged for five runs and nine hits over five-plus innings in a 9-3 home loss May 8.
Hunter is 6 for 12 with two homers and two doubles against Bauer.
- MINNESOTA: 4
CLEVELAND: 17
Final
Aug 8 10:45 PM - C.Santana grounded out, third baseman Plouffe to first baseman Sano, J.Ramirez scored, Lindor to third, Aviles to second.
Twins 4, Guardians 17 Bot 8, 1 OutAug 8 10:36 PM - Carlos Santana grounds out to third base, Trevor Plouffe to Miguel Sano. Mike Aviles to second. Francisco Lindor to third. Jose Ramirez scores.
Twins 4, Guardians 17 Bot 8, 0 OutsAug 8 10:35 PM - Aviles walked, R.Perez scored, J.Ramirez to third, Lindor to second.
Twins 4, Guardians 16 Bot 8, 0 OutsAug 8 10:34 PM - Francisco Lindor to second. Jose Ramirez to third. Roberto Perez scores.
Twins 4, Guardians 16 Bot 8, 0 OutsAug 8 10:34 PM - Almonte homered to center on a 2-1 count, Urshela scored.
Twins 4, Guardians 15 Bot 8, 0 OutsAug 8 10:23 PM - Abraham Almonte homers to center field. Giovanny Urshela scores.
Twins 4, Guardians 15 Bot 8, 0 OutsAug 8 10:23 PM - Sands homered to right on a 2-0 count, Brantley scored, C.Santana scored, Y.Gomes scored.
Twins 3, Guardians 13 Bot 5, 2 OutsAug 8 9:24 PM - Jerry Sands homers to right field. Yan Gomes scores. Carlos Santana scores. Michael Brantley scores.
Twins 3, Guardians 13 Bot 5, 2 OutsAug 8 9:23 PM - Y.Gomes walked on a full count, Lindor scored, Brantley to third, C.Santana to second.
Twins 3, Guardians 9 Bot 5, 2 OutsAug 8 9:19 PM - Carlos Santana to second. Michael Brantley to third. Francisco Lindor scores.
Twins 3, Guardians 9 Bot 5, 2 OutsAug 8 9:19 PM - Suzuki homered to left on a 1-2 count, E.Rosario scored.
Twins 3, Guardians 8 Top 4, 2 OutsAug 8 8:36 PM - Kurt Suzuki homers to left field. Eddie Rosario scores.
Twins 3, Guardians 8 Top 4, 2 OutsAug 8 8:36 PM - Lindor hit a sacrifice fly to right fielder Tor.Hunter, R.Perez scored.
Twins 1, Guardians 8 Bot 3, 2 OutsAug 8 8:26 PM - Francisco Lindor out on a sacrifice fly to right field to Torii Hunter. Jose Ramirez to third. Roberto Perez scores.
Twins 1, Guardians 8 Bot 3, 1 OutAug 8 8:25 PM - J.Ramirez doubled to center, Urshela scored, Almonte scored, R.Perez to third.
Twins 1, Guardians 7 Bot 3, 1 OutAug 8 8:19 PM - Jose Ramirez doubles to center field. Roberto Perez to third. Abraham Almonte scores. Giovanny Urshela scores.
Twins 1, Guardians 7 Bot 3, 1 OutAug 8 8:19 PM - Giovanny Urshela singles to center field. Yan Gomes scores.
Twins 1, Guardians 5 Bot 3, 1 OutAug 8 8:11 PM - Lindor hit a sacrifice fly to left fielder E.Rosario, J.Ramirez scored.
Twins 1, Guardians 4 Bot 2, 2 OutsAug 8 7:53 PM - Francisco Lindor out on a sacrifice fly to left field to Eddie Rosario. Jose Ramirez scores.
Twins 1, Guardians 4 Bot 2, 1 OutAug 8 7:53 PM - Jose Ramirez triples to deep right center field. Abraham Almonte scores.
Twins 1, Guardians 3 Bot 2, 1 OutAug 8 7:52 PM - Chisenhall singled to right, Brantley scored, C.Santana to third.
Twins 1, Guardians 2 Bot 1, 2 OutsAug 8 7:38 PM - Lonnie Chisenhall singles to right field. Carlos Santana to third. Michael Brantley scores.
Twins 1, Guardians 2 Bot 1, 2 OutsAug 8 7:38 PM - Michael Brantley singles to right field. Jose Ramirez scores.
Twins 1, Guardians 1 Bot 1, 1 OutAug 8 7:32 PM
Aug 8 7:12 PM- MINNESOTA: 0
CLEVELAND: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Aug 8 7:10 PM
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