Roster Update: After pitching multiple innings last night, both Cody Anderson and Shawn Armstrong were sent back to AAA for a couple of fresh arm. This included both today’s starting pitcher, Mike Clevinger, who is taking the spot of Danny Salazar, and Ryan Merritt, who will be joining the bullpen. After going much of the year without a single left handed pitcher, Merritt now gives the Indians three with Kyle Crockett and Andrew Miller.
Player of the Game
Fracisco Lindor had a come from behind victory for the Player of the Game as Carlos Santana and his three run home run were leading until late. Lindor added a two run home run of his own in the 7th to a single and a run scored from earlier in the game. In his final at bat, Lindor was safe on an error by Miguel Sano to extend the 8th inning.
Feathers Up
The Indians not only scored first today, but they did so with Jason Kipnis‘ career best 18th home run. Justin Lada wrote about Kipnis’ change in approach since last season and it was apparent on that swing as he looked more like Mike Napoli than the light hitting second baseman he had been. The home run was also a Milestone Alert as Kipnis scored his 405th career run, tying him for 50th in Indians history with Max Alvis.
Carlos Santana continues to have a career year and for the first time this series, it wasn’t the Twins adding on to an early lead. In the bottom of the third, Francisco Lindor singled and Mike Napoli walked to set the table for Santana with two outs. On an 0-1 pitch, Hector Santiago hung a curve and Santana put it on a line, driving it out of the stadium to left with the ball rolling half way to the Q. By the time it finally stopped rolling, three runs were in and the Indians had a four run lead.
The Indians had outfield assists from all three outfielders, all going to different bases and all catching Joe Mauer out on the bases. In the first, Brandon Guyer was unable to catch a short fly to left field, but Mauer thought he would and held at first long enough for the Tribe left fielder to force him out at second. In the third, Mauer singled, but was caught straying too far off first when Max Kepler lined out to center and Rajai Davis was able to get the double play before the runner tagged up and scored from third. In the fifth, Mauer singled again and this time was thrown out between second and third by Abraham Almonte in right after he didn’t advance on what should have been a double.
Rajai Davis stole an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh with two outs and none on. He singled up the middle to get on, then stole second and third before Jason Kipnis fouled off a couple at the plate. On a ball that just slightly got away from the catcher Kurt Suzuki, Davis came home with the Indians fifth run. Kipnis continued to work his at bat after and walked, followed by a Francisco Lindor home run to add two more. All this came with two outs and Davis’ rattling of Michael Tonkin certainly had something to do with it.
A far cry from the rest of this series, the Indians bullpen was dominant tonight. Dan Otero finished off the 5th by stranding two runners for Mike Clevinger, then pitched another clean inning to earn the win. Andrew Miller came in much earlier than expected to get the final out in the sixth and start the seventh, but it turned out this would be the last time the game was close as the Indians scored in the 7th and 8th innings. Miller looked much better than his first appearance as he struck out three of four batters faced and earned a hold. Bryan Shaw walked a batter, but used a double play to face the minimum in the eight and Merritt pitched a perfect ninth.
Feathers Down
Even though this game was nothing like the first three in the series, the Twins offense was still going full speed. In the four game set the Twins top three hitters, Brian Dozier, Mauer and Kepler seemed completely unstoppable. Today, they combined to go 5 for 11 with a walk and a home run and their numbers for the series are even more impressive:
| AB | H | R | HR | RBI | BB | AVG | |
| Dozier | 20 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 1 | .300 |
| Mauer | 18 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 3 | .667 |
| Kepler | 16 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 4 | .500 |
Mike Clevinger had the best start of any Indians pitcher this series, but still managed just 4.1 innings, allowing two runs and four walks. The combined patience and power of the Twins has been a problem for each of the Indians pitchers in the four game set and it was no different for Clevinger, who struck out three in his return to the rotation.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 9 – Minnesota Twins 2
On Deck: The Tribe now heads for Yankee Stadium for a three game set in New York. Josh Tomlin will take on Michael Pineda in game one at 7:05 PM Friday night.
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