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 After giving up the lead late, the Twins rallied to score two
unearned runs in the top of the ninth inning to beat the Cleveland
Indians 4-2 at Progressive Field.
"There were a few twists and turns along the way, but we found a way
to regroup," said Twins manager Paul Molitor.
With one out in the top of the ninth, and the score tied at 2-2,
third baseman Trevor Plouffe reached first on an error by second
baseman Jose Ramirez. Eduardo Nunez, pinch running for Plouffe, went
to third on a single by left fielder Eddie Rosario off right-hander
Cody Allen (2-5). Rosario advanced to second on the throw to third.
Allen then threw a wild pitch, allowing Nunez to score, and Rosario
to go to third as the Twins took a 3-2 lead.
"Cody was going for the strikeout and he bounced it. I tried to
block it but it got away," said catcher Roberto Perez.
Right fielder Torii Hunter's sacrifice fly drove in Rosario with an
insurance run that made it a 4-2 Twins lead.
The win went to left-hander Glen Perkins (3-5), who pitched the
bottom of the eighth. Right-hander Kevin Jepsen worked the ninth to
pick up his 15th save.
It was a critical victory for the Twins, who are now one game behind
idle Houston for the second wild card.
The Twins now go home to host Kansas City in their last three games
of the regular season.
"We look forward to going home and playing the division winner. It's
going to be challenging," said Molitor.
With the Twins leading 1-0, right-hander Tyler Duffey struck out the
first batter of the bottom of the seventh inning, right fielder
Lonnie Chisenhall. Center fielder Abraham Almonte singled to center.
Perez then pounded a pitch over the center field wall for his
seventh home run, a two-run blast that gave the Indians 2-1 lead.
"I knew right away it was gone. He hit it pretty good. I'm just glad
we got out of it with a win," said Duffy.
"I hit it well. I thought it would be a double, but it went out. It
surprised me," Perez said.
That 2-1 Cleveland lead didn't last long. Right-hander Bryan Shaw
relieved right-hander Trevor Bauer to start the eighth inning. Shaw
retired the first batter, but pinch hitter Danny Santana drew a
walk.
Shortstop Eduardo Escobar slapped a double down the left field line,
scoring Santana. Second baseman Brian Dozier reached on an infield
single, with Escobar moving to third.
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Allen, Cleveland's closer, was summoned to pitch to first baseman
Joe Mauer. Allen got Mauer to ground into an inning-ending double
play.
Bauer made his first start since Sept. 13. Because of a prolonged
slump, he was removed from the rotation and sent to the bullpen,
where he made one relief appearance. In four September appearances,
Bauer was 1-2 with a 9.49 ERA.
He was much better than those numbers Thursday. Bauer pitched seven
innings, allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts and
three walks.
"He was really good. He threw a lot of good fastballs down and away.
It's good to see him go out on a positive note," said Cleveland
manager Terry Francona.
Duffy pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on six hits with six
strikeouts and one walk.
"We put a lot of pressure on him, trying to make a 1-0 lead stand up
on October 1," Molitor said. "We were holding our breath every
inning."
Bauer held the Twins scoreless and hitless through the first three
innings.
The Twins broke a scoreless tie with a run in the fourth. With one
out, Mauer doubled off the wall in left field and scored on a double
by Plouffe.
NOTES: 3B Giovanny Urshela was in the Indians' starting lineup
Thursday. It was Urshela's first appearance in a game since Sept.
17. He was sidelined with a sore right shoulder. ... Indians RHP
Cody Anderson, who was 5-0 with a 1.38 ERA in six September starts,
is the first rookie in the majors to win five games in September
since RHP Anibal Sanchez was 5-1 for the Marlins in 2006. ... Twins
2B Brian Dozier went into Thursday's game with 145 strikeouts, tying
him with Bobby Darwin (1972) for the most in Twins history. ... RHP
Ervin Santana will start Friday night for the Twins against Kansas
City. In his last six starts, Santana is 5-0 with a 1.47 ERA.
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