Twins Rally to Top Indians 4-2

CLEVELAND – The Indians finished up their four-game series with the Twins, dropping three of four after losing tonight 4-2. After last night’s debacle regarding Jose Ramirez’s bat flip, neither side exchanged any firepower.

Trevor Bauer made his first start since being sent to the bullpen, and a good one at that. Bauer went seven innings giving up just two hits, one run, walking three, and striking out three.

He did his job, but unfortunately the bullpen couldn’t hold it down for the Tribe. Bauer would get the no decision.

With one out in the fourth, Joe Mauer doubled to deep left center. Trevor Plouffe followed up with a two out ground rule double to deep center, putting the Twins up 1-0.

The Indians got on the board in the seventh starting with a one out double up the middle from Abraham Almonte. Roberto Perez, who has hardly played in weeks, crushed the ball over the center field wall to lift the Tribe 2-1.

The Twins answered when Brian Shaw came in to relieve Bauer in the eighth. Shaw put Danny Santana on with one out, and Eduardo Escobar doubled to left tying the game. Cody Allen would relieve Shaw and get out of the inning without further damage.

The Indians couldn’t get anything going, and in the ninth the Twins made the game theirs. Plouffe was safe at first after a throwing error from Ramirez at second.

Eduardo Nunez would run for Plouffe. Eddie Rosario singled to right, and advanced to second on the throw. A wild pitch from Allen would score Nunez, and Torii Hunter followed with a sac-fly to right to put the Twins ahead 4-2, sealing the game.

Kevin Jepsen would get the save for the Twins.

The Indians are now 78-80, and need to sweep the Red Sox this weekend at home if they want to finish the year above .500. The Twins did what they needed, and stay alive in the wild card race. As we all know now, the Indians are no longer in contention.

Tomorrow’s matchup:

RHP Josh Tomlin (6-2, 3.03 ERA) vs LHP Henry Owens (4-3, 3.84 ERA)