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Twins, Indians close set with doubleheader

Sep 11, 2014 - 1:13 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Cleveland Indians will try to keep their postseason hopes alive on Thursday when they play a traditional doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins to close out a three-game set at Progressive Field.

The double-dip was made necessary when Wednesday's scheduled contest was postponed due to rain.

Cleveland will rely on Corey Kluber in the opener. Kluber snapped a three-game losing streak on Saturday when he went the distance to beat the Chicago White Sox, striking out eight without a walk, while allowing just one unearned run to improve to 14-9 to go along with a 2.47 ERA.

"I've always tried to take the ball every fifth day when it's your turn and pitch as long as you can," Kluber said. "Hopefully that's why you do all that work between starts so when you get late in the season you're not wearing down."

Getting the call for the Tribe in the second game will be lefty T.J. House, who will be trying for his first win in four starts.

House gave up just a run and seven hits in seven innings on Friday to the Chicago White Sox, but did not factor in the decision of his team's 2-1 win. He also gave up a run in seven innings of his previous outing to no avail.

"You just have to limit mistakes," said House, who has a 2.57 ERA in his past six starts for the Tribe.

House, who is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in six home games this season, beat the Twins back on Aug. 20, holding them to four hits over 5 1/3 scoreless innings.

Minnesota, meanwhile, will go with righty Kyle Gibson in the first game. Gibson did not get a decision on Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, as he allowed four runs and seven hits in seven innings of his team's 5-4 loss. He is 11-10 with a 4.27 ERA on the year.

Of the 21 outs he recorded, 16 came via the ground ball, including an inning- ending double play in the fifth.

Gibson has faced the Indians four times and is 1-0 against them with a 3.57 ERA.

Ricky Nolasco takes the ball in the second game for the Twins. Nolasco has been one of the worst starters in the league this season, but pitched well his last time out. Nolasco did not get a decision on Friday against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, as he surrendered three runs (2 earned) and eight hits in five innings of his team's 7-6 loss.

Nolasco has lost four decisions and is a miserable 5-010 on the year with a 5.87 ERA.

Minnesota won Tuesday's opener, as Oswaldo Arcia delivered a two-run homer in a four-run fourth inning that helped the Twins to a 4-3 win. Kennys Vargas and Trevor Plouffe each knocked in runs for the Twins, who snapped a four-game losing streak.

Trevor May (2-4) won his second straight start after yielding two runs on five hits over five innings.

"It was a combination of getting ahead of hitters...and making each pitch as it comes," May said.

Trevor Bauer (5-8) took the loss, allowing four runs on four hits with eight strikeouts over eight innings.

Yan Gomes drove in two runs and Lonnie Chisenhall had an RBI in the setback.

The Indians are now 4 1/2 games back of the second wild card in the American League.

Cleveland has split its 14 matchups with the Twins this season.