Kluber notches 2nd straight CG win over Twins
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins probably would not complain if they did not have to face Corey Kluber again this season. On Friday night, the Indians' ace continued his dominance over Minnesota, spinning a one-hit, complete-game gem in a 6-1 victory for Cleveland at Target Field.
Kluber, who has a 1.38 ERA in three starts against the Twins this year, went the distance against Minnesota for the second outing in a row, and ended with seven strikeouts and one walk. His lone blemish came in the fourth inning, when Minnesota's Joe Mauer belted a solo homer -- his eighth shot of the season -- off the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner.
Video: CLE@MIN: Kluber on dominating start vs. Twins
"He was so good," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "You're facing a team that you faced five days ago, which is never easy. He was just in command the whole time and I think he kind of showed you, when we score some runs, he kind of puts it in overdrive."
The Twins went 0-for-10 before Mauer's homer, and then Kluber held Minnesota to an 0-for-16 showing after the fourth-inning blast.
"Kind of all too familiar from last time," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "I don't know if we adjusted very well from last game. We kind of fell into the same pattern a little bit, I think. Got a little pull happy and didn't maybe stay with pitches as long as you need to off a guy like that."
Twins righty Trevor May, who was on a limited pitch count after moving out of the bullpen for Friday's start, allowed two runs (both on a homer by rookie Giovanny Urshela) in his three innings. The bottom of Cleveland's order did the bulk of the damage on the night, as the Tribe's Nos. 6-9 hitters finished a combined 10-for-16 with five RBIs and all six runs.
Video: CLE@MIN: Urshela belts a two-run homer to left-center
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Hicks' hiccup: With one out in the second, Abraham Almonte sent a line drive to center field, where Twins outfielder Aaron Hicks charged in. The baseball kept carrying, though, sailing over Hicks' head and opening the door for Almonte to reach with a triple. Two pitches later, Urshela took full advantage with his towering, two-run homer to left-center field.
Well played, Mauer: For the second start in a row, Kluber saw Mauer end an impressive no-hit stretch. On Sunday in Cleveland, Mauer ended the ace's no-hit bid at 20 batters with a single. On Friday night, Mauer got to Kluber much earlier, erasing the pitcher's bids for a no-hitter and shutout at 11 hitters with a towering blast to second deck in the right field.
Twins tax 'pen: With Phil Hughes sidelined with lower back inflammation, the Twins turned to May in a pinch. May hadn't started a game in the second half and was limited to 49 pitches in three innings so the Twins, as expected, had to tap into their bullpen early. The Twins got multi-inning relief efforts from J.R. Graham and A.J. Achter as well as an inning from Brian Duensing and two-thirds of an inning from Michael Tonkin. More >
Rosario shows off arm: A day after cutting down a runner trying to go from first to third from right field, Eddie Rosario showed off his arm from the opposite end of the outfield. Twice. Rosario nabbed Lonnie Chisenhall at the plate trying to tag on a fly ball in the second to end the inning and threw a laser to get Francisco Lindor at second base in the ninth. More >
Video: CLE@MIN: Rosario throws out Lindor at second
QUOTABLE
"I think we've just taken the mindset that, yeah, we've made trades, but it's not going to do us any good to feel sorry for ourselves. We've played ourselves into the position we're in, so now it's important for us to focus on improving things that haven't gone well so far, and try to improve them for this year and also for the future." --Kluber, on the Tribe's recent hot stretch
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Kluber became the first Indians pitcher to notch consecutive complete games since Roberto Hernandez went the distance in two straight outings from Sept. 3-10, 2010.
REPLAY REVIEW
Rosario threw out Chisenhall out at home after what looked like a routine sacrifice fly from Jose Ramirez. Home-plate umpire Chad Fairchild ruled Chisenhall safe, but Molitor challenged and the call was overturned after 1 minute, 12 seconds to end the inning.
Video: CLE@MIN: Rosario nabs Chisenhall after challenge
WHAT'S NEXT
Indians: Right-hander Josh Tomlin (29-28 with a 4.89 ERA in parts of five seasons with Cleveland) will be officially called up from Triple-A Columbus on Saturday in order to make his 2015 debut for the Indians. In a 7:10 p.m. ET clash with the Twins at Target Field, Tomlin will be making his return from the right shoulder surgery that cost him a shot at a rotation job during Spring Training and required four months of rehab.
Twins: Tyler Duffey will make his second Major League start and first at Target Field on Saturday at 6:10 CT. Duffey gave up six runs in two innings against the Blue Jays in his debut on Aug. 5, but the Twins liked how he responded in his most recent start at Triple-A Rochester, giving up just one hit in six innings.
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