CLEVELAND - The Minnesota Twins were held scoreless in eight innings, but scored four runs on four hits in the fourth inning and that was enough to beat the Cleveland Indians 4-3 at Progressive Field Tuesday night.
Right fielder Oswaldo Arcia belted a two-run home run, capping Minnesota’s four-run fourth inning off right-hander Trevor Bauer (5-8), who pitched eight innings and combined with four relievers on a five-hitter, but still took the loss.
Twins rookie right-hander Trevor May (2-4) pitched five innings, giving up two runs on five hits, to get the win. Jared Burton pitched the ninth and picked up his second save.
The Indians had a chance to score in the seventh inning when singles by center fielder Michael Bourn and shortstop Jose Ramirez put runners at first and second with two outs. But left-hander Brian Duensing retired Cleveland’s best hitter, left fielder Michael Brantley, on a fly ball to right to end the inning.
Trailing 4-2, the Indians cut the Minnesota lead to 4-3 with a run in the eighth inning. First baseman Carlos Santana hit a double off the left field wall off Duensing. Duensing retired the next two hitters, then gave way to right-hander Casey Fien.
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Catcher Yan Gomes greeted Fien with a single to center, to make it 4-3. With Gomes at first, pinch hitter Jason Giambi flied out to left field to end the inning.
The Indians took a 2-0 lead in the second inning off right-hander Trevor May. First baseman Carlos Santana singled and went to third on a double by second baseman Jason Kipnis. Santana scored on a groundout by third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall. Kipnis went to third on the groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly by catcher Yan Gomes.
Cleveland right-hander Trevor Bauer gave up a leadoff walk, then retired the next 10 men he faced in a row. But with a 2-0 lead and two outs and nobody on base in the fourth inning Bauer gave up four consecutive two-out hits as the Twins took a 4-2 lead.
First baseman Joe Mauer started the rally with a double down the left field line. Designated hitter Kennys Vargas followed with a double down the right field line, scoring Mauer with the Twins first run. Third baseman Trevor Plouffe singled home Vargas with the tying run.
Right-fielder Oswaldo Arcia then hit the pitch Bauer threw him into the seats in right-center field for a two-run home run, his 16th, giving Minnesota a 4-2 lead.
NOTES: Prior to the game, the Indians outrighted OF Chris Dickerson to Triple-A Columbus. ... The Indians have a 3.00 ERA since the all-star break. Only three times in their history have they had a sub-3.00 ERA since the break: 1954, 1968 and 1972. ... Twins 2B Brian Dozier scored 99 runs, the most by a Twins player since Michael Cuddyer scored 102 runs in 2006.
