The Minnesota Twins lost for the 13th time in the past 15 games on Tuesday night, falling to the Cleveland Indians by a score of 7-4.
The Twins established some momentum in the first inning when Byron Buxton legged out an infield single. With Buxton on first, Nelson Cruz delivered an RBI triple, scoring Buxton and giving hope to 40-year-olds across Minnesota.
😱 NELLY CRUZ THREE-BAGGER 😱#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/NcqRRvpJuO
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) April 27, 2021
Even with an early lead, the Twins’ struggles on the mound continued. Kenta Maeda served up a solo home run to José Ramírez in the first inning and another to Franmil Reyes in the second to tie the game up at 2-2.
Ramírez continued to torment the Twins in the bottom of the third with an RBI double but Cruz’s wheels set up more offense in the top of the fourth. After Cruz legged out a double, Willians Astudillo smacked an RBI single to tie the game at 3-3.
Cleveland broke the tie with Reyes’ second home run of the game in the bottom of the sixth, and after a Bo Naylor double, the Twins turned to their embattled bullpen.
Caleb Thielbar gave up an RBI double to Jake Bauers to extend the Indians’ lead but Buxton made it a one-run game with a solo homer in the top of the eighth.
With the Twins trying to stay in the game, Rocco Baldelli turned to Alexander Colomé. Earlier in the day, Baldelli said that he would use Colomé in lower leverage situations after his rough start to the season but the right-hander decided to create his own.
After striking out Reyes to start the inning, Colomé hit Naylor with a pitch before walking Bauers and Chris Giménez to load the bases. Colomé then walked in a run against Roberto Perez before being pulled for Jorge Alcala.
Alcala gave the Indians an insurance run after plunking Jordan Luplow and the Twins struggling offense went quietly into the night.
The Twins (7-15) will look to avoid the sweep in the final game against the Indians on Wednesday afternoon.
