Cleveland Indians Drop Game, Series to Last Place Twins

The Cleveland Indians dropped the rubber match game to the Minnesota Twins this afternoon by a score of 5-1. For the second game in the row, the Tribe’s offense was stymied by the Twins. The loss dropped the Indians to 17-17 while the Twins got their 10th win of the season finally.

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Tribe starter Trevor Bauer pitched well again for the Indians, going 6 2/3 innings allowing three runs on five hits, while striking out eight. After allowing a pair of runs in the 2nd inning, Bauer retired 12 straight Twins hitters and 13 of 14 before allowing a 7th inning solo home run to Jorge Polanco, giving the Twins a 3-0 lead at the time. It was also the second night in a row that a Twins batter hit their first career home run (catcher Juan Centeno did so yesterday). Despite pitching well, Bauer was the tough-luck loser, dropping to 3-1 on the season.

Relieving Bauer in the 7th was Joba Chamberlain who came in to get the final out of the inning before pitching a perfect 8th inning. In fact, Chamberlain struck out all four Twins hitters he faced. In 12 2/3 innings this year, Chamberlain now has a 0.71 ERA and 0.55 WHIP. Taking over in the 9th was Jeff Manship who unfortunately wasn’t able to keep the Twins off the board, allowing two runs on three hits. Both runs were considered “earned”; however, outfielder Tyler Naquin did him no favors, dropping a flyball to centerfield that was ruled a double (to the surprise of many).

Offensively the Indians had no answers for Twins starter Tyler Duffey who went seven shutout innings on the afternoon. He allowed six hits, walked one, and struck out six. He kept the Indians off balance all afternoon with a devastating curveball. Not a single right-handed batter got a hit off Duffey all day, and only catcher Chris Gimenez manged to go one at all today (off reliever Kevin Jepsen in the 9th inning).

The only run the Indians scored all day came on a leadoff solo home run by Jason Kipnis in the 8th off reliever Trevor May, who had just come in to take over for Duffey. The Indians did leave nine on base as a team, but most of the baserunner they got came once their were two outs and they were never able to get the big hit they needed to push home a run.

The Indians look to get back to their winning ways tomorrow when the “Battle of Ohio” begins with the Cincinnati Reds coming to town for a two-game series at Progressive Field. The Indians and Reds will then play two more on Wednesday and Thursday in Cincinnati at Great American Ballpark. Last year the Indians won the Battle of Ohio, taking five of six from the Reds.

Next: Indians Lose; Brantley to DL

The Indians will hopefully be getting back Lonnie Chisenhall before the homestand ends as well. Terry Francona expects to have Chisenhall back in Cleveland tomorrow with the plan to activate him from the Bereavement List Tuesday. The Indians have yet to announce what corresponding move will be made, though the best guesses are one of Naquin or Michael Martinez going back to Triple-A, though both have had two-hit games in the last couple days. Perhaps the Indians will send down a reliever?

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