CLEVELAND -- On Tuesday night, Kyle Gibson couldn't find any luck and the offense couldn't get anything going against Carlos Carrasco.
Gibson, making his fifth start against the Indians this year, went 5 1/3 innings, giving up five runs on eight hits in an 8-1 loss at Progressive Field. He finishes with a 4.66 ERA against Cleveland this year, but has a 3.60 ERA against all other opponents. He's also struggled in August with a 5.28 ERA in five outings.
"That was about as good as I've felt in a long time, really," Gibson said. "Executing pitches, physically, mentally. I think other than the runs, the results kind of showed. I had those couple walks when I lost control there for two hitters, but 11 ground-ball outs, one fly-ball out all day. No extra-base hits to a team that's pretty good. Unfortunately, sometimes, they just didn't hit the ground balls at a guy or hard enough at a guy."
Gibson didn't surrender any extra-base hits but didn't help himself with three walks. The Indians took the lead in the third after a pair of singles from Francisco Lindor and Michael Brantley sparked a rally. Jose Ramirez scored Lindor with a sacrifice fly, while Brantley came home on a two-out RBI single from Edwin Encarnacion.
Gibson issued two walks to open the fourth, when Greg Allen plated a run on an RBI groundout. The Indians broke the game open in the sixth, when Jason Kipnis reached on a bunt single and Yan Gomes flared a single to right. After an RBI fielder's choice from Allen, Gibson was removed for lefty Gabriel Moya. Moya struggled, giving up a two-run double to Ramirez and then an RBI single to Encarnacion.
"The thing about Gibby's outing, I thought we cost him some pitches by not making some plays early, both on a double-play opportunity and a missed relay," manager Paul Molitor said. "Those are costly when your pitcher has to burn pitches. And obviously, the couple of walks cost him, too."
Carrasco, meanwhile, threw 7 2/3 scoreless innings, scattering four hits and two walks with 11 strikeouts. Joe Mauer singled and doubled against him but remains stuck at 999 career runs, as he hasn't scored since Aug. 21 despite seven hits and a walk over that span.
The Twins didn't score until the ninth on a solo homer from Jake Cave off Dan Otero. It was Cave's seventh of the year.
"The game looks flat when you don't swing the bats particularly well and you're striking out," Molitor said. "It was nice to see Cave hit one out at the end. But they pretty much outplayed us. Their starter was a little better, their defense was a little better and they swung the bats better."
SOUND SMART
Reliever Oliver Drake, who struck out the side in a scoreless seventh, had his game-worn hat donated to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Drake broke a Major League record for most teams pitched for in a single season. The Twins are the fifth club he's played for this year.
YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Ehire Adrianza nearly struck Carrasco with a line drive in the fifth inning. Adrianza drove a first-pitch fastball back to the mound with a 99.8-mph exit velocity. As Carrasco moved to avoid being hit, the baseball struck the heel of his glove. He was tended to briefly on the mound, but he was unharmed.
The close call was reminiscent of June 16, when Mauer drilled Carrasco in the right elbow with a comebacker, sending the Indians pitcher to the disabled list.
HE SAID IT
"If I'm being honest, this might've been some of the best stuff I've had against them all year. Unfortunately, it just didn't work out. I thought I executed about as well as I have against them all year. You look up and shake your head with eight singles. Shoot, man, it always sets up for an interesting postgame interview. You want to try to be realistic and understand we got beat, 8-1, so it's just one of those weird games." -- Gibson
UP NEXT
Right-hander Kohl Stewart (0-1, 6.94 ERA) will make his fourth career start in the second game of the Twins' series vs. the Indians on Wednesday at 6:10 p.m. CT. Stewart gave up three runs and struck out six batters over 4 2/3 innings against the A's on Thursday. Right-hander Adam Plutko (4-4, 5.09) will take the mound for Cleveland.