|
 Anderson allowed just two hits in seven scoreless innings, and
Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez homered as the Indians beat the
wild-card-chasing Twins 10-2 in the second game of a doubleheader at
Progressive Field.
Minnesota won the first game 7-1, as first baseman Joe Mauer and
center fielder Byron Buxton homered and right fielder Torii Hunter
drove in three runs in support of right-hander Kyle Gibson.
Gibson (11-11) pitched six scoreless innings of four-hit ball while
matching his career high with nine strikeouts.
Losing the second game prevented the Twins from taking a big step in
the race for the second American League wild card. They are 1 1/2
games behind Houston and one game behind Los Angeles. Fortunately
for the Twins, the Angels also lost Wednesday night, though the
Astros won.
"We didn't get a sweep, but the Angels didn't win, they finally had
a hiccup," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "We're a game behind
them, but we live for another day, that's for sure."
In the second game, Anderson was nearly unhittable. The rookie
right-hander the season with a 7-3 record and a 3.05 ERA in 15
starts. In his last five starts, he went 5-0 with a 1.09 ERA.
"He's commanding his fastball, he has that changeup, and he's down
in the zone with everything," Indians manager Terry Francona said.
The Twins failed to get a runner as far as third base against
Anderson. The only hits he allowed were a single by Hunter in the
second inning and a single by third baseman Trevor Plouffe in the
sixth.
"The way he competes and the way he acts on the mound, he has a very
bright future," Francona said of Anderson.
The Twins' only runs came on solo home runs by designated hitter
Miguel Sano in the eighth inning and left fielder Eddie Rosario in
the ninth.
Leading 7-1, the Indians added three more runs in the eighth inning
on a three-run homer by Ramirez off right-hander Ricky Nolasco. The
Cleveland second baseman sparked some controversy by admiring his
home run before running to first base, then flipping his bat toward
the Minnesota dugout.
Molitor and several Twins players could be seen yelling at Ramirez
as he rounded the bases and crossed home plate.
"Some of our people thought that was over the top and disrespectful,
so we reacted," Molitor said.
Nolasco was less diplomatic.
"To pull a (garbage) move like that, he'll get his, don't worry,"
Nolasco said.
[to top of second column] |
Said Francona: "Good swing, poor judgment. Hitting the home run was
good enough. He'll learn. Hopefully not the hard way, but he'll
learn."
Twins right-hander Mike Pelfrey (6-11), whose last win was Aug. 12,
started but didn't stick around for long. He pitched 1 2/3 innings,
giving up four runs, six hits and two walks.
In eight starts since his last win, Pelfrey is 0-4 with a 6.31 ERA.
Center fielder Abraham Almonte led off the second inning with a
double to center. Catcher Adam Moore struck out, but left fielder
Michael Martinez singled to score Almonte. A throwing error by
center fielder Aaron Hicks allowed Martinez to go to second.
Designated hitter Jason Kipnis lined out to short for the second
out. However, Ramirez doubled to left field, scoring Martinez to
make it 2-0.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor reached on an infield single, moving
Ramirez to third. Ramirez scored on a wild pitch by Pelfrey, and a
single by first baseman Carlos Santana scored Lindor to make it 4-0.
An RBI single by Moore in the third inning and a two-run homer by
Lindor in the fourth stretched the lead to 7-0, and the rout was on.
Cleveland right-hander Carlos Carrasco (14-12) took the loss in the
opener, allowing five runs in three innings.
NOTES: Twins OF Torii Hunter is hitting .444 (12-for-27) with five
doubles, three home runs and 11 RBIs at Progressive Field this year.
... RHP Kyle Gibson has made 73 career starts for the Twins. The
Twins won 35 of those games, and in those contests, Gibson has a
1.65 ERA. ... SS Francisco Lindor is just the third Indians rookie
to have 10 or more home runs and 10 or more stolen bases in a single
season. The other two were Earl Averill in 1929 and Von Hayes in
1982. ... Indians 2B Jason Kipnis has 18 three-hit games, the second
most in the American League behind Jose Altuve's 20.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
