• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Garko, relievers help Indians to win over Twins

Apr 24, 2007 - 6:43 AM MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Indians' new and improved bullpen flexed its muscles and Ryan Garko made sure they received credit for it.

The Indians won the battle of the bullpens by getting five scoreless innings from three relievers and Garko broke a tie with a bloop single in the 12th inning en route to a 7-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins in the first game of an abbreviated two-game series.

Cleveland's bullpen ranked 24th in the majors with a 4.66 ERA in and was last with a mere 24 saves in 2006. However, they signed Robert Hernandez, Aaron Fultz and closer Joe Borowski this winter in an effort to improve their weakness.

"They did an outstanding job tonight against a very good hitting team," Indians manager Eric Wedge said.

Fultz threw one inning, Rafael Betancourt followed with two and Hernandez (2-1) pitched the final two frames to help the Indians win their second game in a row and fourth in their last five.

"When you bring in guys like Joe, Aaron and Roberto, those guys help a lot," Betancourt said. "Last year? I'm not going to say we didn't have a good bullpen, but right now we're in the situation where everybody knows when you're going to come in the game - and you'll prepare yourself better."

Travis Hafner, who has reached base in 22 of his last 33 games, tied a career high with four hits and started the huge inning with a leadoff walk issued by Jesse Crain (0-1).

"Leadoff walks usually work for you or against you," Wedge said. "It's those first couple hitters that are most important in extra innings. You could say that about any inning, but in extras especially because you can manufacture a run."

Victor Martinez followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Garko then blooped a single to right-center field that scored Hafner for a 4-3 lead and started a four-run frame.

"Certain guys want to be up in those situations, and he's (Garko) definitely one of them," Wedge said. "Guys that want to be up there with the game on the line, guys that want to be up there in RBI situations and clutch situations, they just are able to turn it up a notch, and that's what Ryan does."

Garko had a chance to be the hero in the ninth inning as well, but struck out swinging with the bases loaded against Twins reliever Pat Neshek. He was happy to get a second chance.

"The most important at-bat is your next one," Garko said. "I was hoping to get another opportunity with a guy on base, and fortunately I did."

Jason Michaels followed with a double to deep right-center to drive in a run and send Crain to the showers.

Closer Joe Nathan fared no better and promptly allowed a two-run single to Shin-Soo Choo to stretch the lead to 7-3 before retiring the final three hitters of the inning.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire noted that the Indians' bullpen just outlasted his own.

"Our bullpen gave just about everything they had," Gardenhire said. "We walked the leadoff guy in that last inning and they came up with a couple big hits and the game got away from us."