MLB: Twins win, still one game out

CLEVELAND - After giving up the lead late, the Minnesota Twins rallied to score two unearned runs in the ninth inning to beat the Cleveland Indians 4-2 on Thursday at Progressive Field.
With one out in the top of the ninth, 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.
Nunez scored and Rosario went to third on a wild pitch by Allen. 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 an important victory for the Twins, who began play Thursday 1 1/2 games behind Houston for the second wild card, with the Angels one-half game behind Houston and one game ahead of the Twins.
Trailing 1-0, Cleveland took a 2-1 lead in the seventh inning on a two-run homer by catcher Roberto Perez off right-hander Tyler Duffey.
With the Twins leading 1-0, Duffey struck out the first batter of the inning, right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall. Center fielder Abraham Almonte singled to center and Perez pounded a pitch over the center field wall for his seventh home run, a two-run blast that gave the Indians 2-1 lead.
That 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.
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 September 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.
Duffy pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on six hits with six strikeouts and one walk.
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. Designated hitter Miguel Sano grounded out for the second out, but Plouffe hit a fly ball off the center field wall for a double, scoring Mauer with the first run.
Cleveland had a chance to tie in the bottom of the fourth. Designated hitter Jason Kipnis doubled to right field and went to third on a groundout by first baseman Carlos Santana. Chisenhall walked, but Duffey got center fielder Abraham Almonte to ground into an inning-ending double play.
In the fifth, the Indians again put the leadoff hitter on with a single by Perez. A sacrifice bunt moved Perez to second, but Duffey retired the next two hitters and the Twins maintained their 1-0 lead.
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.