Kipnis on a tear since breaking out of slump

MINNEAPOLIS -- Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis has seemingly perfected the art of almost hitting for the cycle.

During Friday's 12-6 win over the Twins, Kipnis collected a single, double and triple to help Cleveland's 17-hit onslaught in the team's eighth straight win. For the second baseman, it marked the eighth time in his three big league seasons -- and fourth time this year -- that he has fallen the one required hit shy of a cycle.

"It's getting annoying," Kipnis quipped. "I'm not going to complain. As long as I keep doing that, it'll happen one of these days."

Right now, Kipnis simply feels fortunate to have found his swing again.

Entering Saturday, Kipnis had hit at a .450 (9-for-20) clip with four extra-base hits and three RBIs in his past five games for the Indians. In the previous 30 games, the All-Star second baseman had been mired in a .194 (21-for-108) slump at the plate.

On the season, Kipnis is hitting .281 with 17 homers, 36 doubles, four triples, 83 RBIs, 29 stolen bases, 75 walks and 84 runs in 147 games.

"Those first two at-bats were two of the best swings he's taken in a while," Indians manager Terry Francona said of Kipnis' 3-for-5 showing on Friday night. "He hit the triple and the line drive to right field. Those balls kind of clicked off his barrel. We've all seen when Kip gets hot, what he can do."

Yeah, Kipnis can almost hit for a cycle.

"One of these days," Kipnis said.