Ballgame!
Cody, Carlos, Lindor, Lonnie & Kip pace the W, moving us a half-game closer in WC race!#Windians #Whiff pic.twitter.com/RkEG7gov6y
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) September 25, 2015
The Twins didn’t get the start they were hoping for from Kyle Gibson and they fell to the Cleveland Indians 6-3 Thursday night, missing their chance to gain more ground on the Houston Astros.
The loss leaves the Twins 1 1/2 games behind the Astros for the second American League wildcard spot.
Cleveland did all of their damage against Gibson. They put up three in the top of the first, highlighted by a solo home run by Jason Kipnis.
In the third inning Carlos Santana blasted a three-run homer off Gibson, pushing the Indians’ lead to 6-0.
Gibson (10-11) gave up six runs on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out five. It was a disappointing outing in what was the biggest start so far in his young big-league career.
Twins relievers did a nice job of stopping the bleeding, but the damage was done. Cleveland starter Cody Anderson (6-3) held Minnesota to one run, despite giving up 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings.
The Twins battled back late. Torii Hunter put Minnesota on the scoreboard with a solo home run in the seventh. Eddie Rosario then added a two-run shot in the eighth.
But that was all they could muster.
Joe Mauer was able to extend his streak of consecutive games reaching base to 43, breaking the club record.
Joe Mauer walks, now owns the franchise record for most consecutive games reaching base, 43 games. Breaks Bob Allison's record set in 1961.
— Derek Wetmore (@DerekWetmore) September 25, 2015
The Twins will open a weekend series in Detroit on Friday. Mike Pelfrey (6-10) will get the start for Minnesota against Tigers lefty Matt Boyd (1-3).
