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Santana's 2 HRs lead Indians' DH sweep of Twins

Sep 11, 2014 - 11:11 PM Cleveland, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Carlos Santana knocked in both runs, T.J. House threw seven strong innings and the Cleveland Indians beat the Minnesota Twins 2-0 to sweep a doubleheader on Thursday.

Santana homered in both games, giving Cleveland the lead with a two-run blast in the first inning of the opener, which the Indians won 8-2. He added a solo homer and an RBI single in the second game.

House (3-3) struck out eight batters, walked none and gave up just four hits in another good showing.

According to the team, he is the first Indians pitcher in 100 years to make three straight starts of at least seven innings while giving up one run or fewer and no walks.

The rookie left-hander was coming off back-to-back no decisions in which he threw seven innings and gave up just one run in each outing.

"It's really exciting to watch his development," said Indians manager Terry Francona.

"Finding pitching is one of the best feeling," Francona said. "The second game we didn't knock the ball around the ballpark. But because of the way he pitched, it ended up being a really good day."

The Indians closed out the three-game series on a high note to finish 6-5 on an 11-game homestand.

Ricky Nolasco (5-11) also threw seven innings in the loss, Minnesota's sixth in the last seven games, including two of three in this series. He allowed a run on six hits with five strikeouts and no walks.

The Twins haven't won a series since taking two of three in Houston from Aug. 11-13. They are 0-6-2 in their last eight series.

"Their kid (House) really threw the ball well in the second game," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. "He changed speeds, he had a nice little sinker going, nice little cutter, a good changeup. They pitched really well and made it tough on us all day long."

Good defense helped keep the game scoreless early on.

Twins right fielder Oswaldo Arcia made a leaping grab in front of the warning track on Jose Ramirez's drive in the first inning, potentially saving a run because Michael Brantley followed with a single.

Cleveland turned an unlikely inning-ending double play in the top of the third after Brantley caught Brian Dozier's blast at the left-field wall. Two strong throws from Brantley and the shortstop Ramirez nabbed Chris Parmelee trying to race back to first base.

Santana teed off on a low 1-2 pitch with one out in the fourth inning, sending it inside the right-field pole for his 27th homer of the year and a 1-0 lead.

In the eighth, Santana hit an RBI single to make it 2-0 after Michael Bourn led off with a single against Caleb Thielbar and went to second on Brantley's one-out walk.

Bryan Shaw stranded a runner at second for the Indians in the eighth inning and Cody Allen worked around a walk in the ninth, getting a game-ending double play to earn his 20th save.

Game Notes

Wednesday's game was rained out, forcing the doubleheader ... Cleveland has won each of House's last five starts ... The Twins remain on the road for a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox starting Friday ... The Indians start a 10-game road trip on Friday in Detroit.