Reaction: Vintage Hunter Leads Minnesota Twins Past the Cleveland Indians 9-3

On a muggy night more fitting for July or August, Torii Hunter did his best youthful impersonation for the Twins, and behind his four RBIs, the Twins sunk the Indians 9-3.  Hunter finished the game 4-4 and was just a triple short of the cycle.  The Twins were in control for most of the game thanks in part to Mike Pelfrey.  Pelfrey pitched 7.0 innings, allowing six hits and two walks, but overcame the baserunners thanks to inducing 14 ground ball outs.

Trevor Bauer took the mound to start the game for the Wahoos and was hit hard.  He gave up nine hits in 5.0 innings en route to allowing five earned runs.  The Indians were never able to get much going on offense to bail out Bauer.  Brantley did contribute with a solo shot in the eighth, his third homerun of the season, and Santana knocked in one with an RBI double in the third.  Lonnie Chisenhall drove in the Tribe’s third run.

Pros

• Jason Kipnis reached base twice in five plate appearances, and he has had a hot week out of the leadoff spot.
• The bullpen pitched well in its 4.0 innings of relief, giving up just four hits and striking out four. Anthony Swarzak pitched the bulk of those innings, going 2.0 innings with two strikeouts.
• Despite the bullpen’s efforts, the pitcher receiving the most applause last night was likely Chuck Yasenka, the 100-year-old Broadview Heights fan who threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Cons

• Carlos Santana made a costly error in the field, being unable to pick up a sac bunt attempt while charging hard from first. This error allowed the bases to be eventually be loaded for Torii Hunter, who promptly cleared them with a double.

More from Away Back Gone

• Cleveland Guardians tantalizingly close to locking up AL Central tiebreakers
• Cleveland Guardians: Terry Francona becomes meme in profanity-laced ejection
• Say goodbye to defensive shifts and hello to bigger bases, pitch clock in 2023
• Cleveland Guardians: Shane Bieber second-fastest to 800 strikeouts in major-league history
• The next week will make or break the Cleveland Guardians’ season

• Jose Ramirez, after his 0-3 game on Friday, is now batting .177 on the year, and looks like he could benefit from some more seasoning in AAA. If the organization is not ready to pull the trigger on Francisco Lindor, they could buy some more time due to the addition of Zach Walters to the big league club.  Walters did get a pinch hit attempt yesterday.

What’s Next

• Saturday is the first of a couple homages to the 1995 club, as the first 10,000 fans will receive a 1995 AL Champions Commemorative Pennant.
• The Tribe will turn to Bruce Chen on Saturday. The 37-year-old veteran compiled a 1.74 ERA with 23 strikeouts and just three in five starts.
• If Chen falters, the Indians still have Shaun Marcum in Columbus. Marcum went 8.0 scoreless last night for the Clippers, striking out eight, walking none, and only allowing four hits.  His season ERA sits at 1.38 and he is 4-0 on the year.
• Mike Aviles left the club prior to Friday’s game and was placed on the Family Medical Emergency List. The Tribe is unsure how long he will be gone, but he can remain on the list between three and seven days.  After the game, Francona indicated it was a “very serious matter.”

Next: Pregame Notes: Cleveland Indians Kick Off Six Game Home Stand