The Minnesota Twins couldn’t hold a five-run lead and Cleveland rallied back to win in the series opener 7-5 Tuesday night at Target Field.
Minnesota put up five runs in the first inning, to build a 5-0 lead, but failed to hold it.
Oswaldo Arcia highlighted the big inning for the Twins, with a three-run homer. It was his 13th of the season and third in as many nights. Joe Mauer had an RBI double and Kennys Vargas drove in the other run, in the inning.
The struggles began the very next inning. Twins starter Kyle Gibson allowed Cleveland to get one back in the second, and the Indians chipped away with two in the fourth and one in the fifth before a three-run sixth gave them the lead.
Yan Gomes helped lead the Indians back. He was 3-for-4 with his 17th home run of the season. He also scored three runs for Cleveland.
Gibson didn’t factor in the decision, but it wasn’t his best night. He gave up five runs on eight hits in just over five innings of work. The loss went to Brian Duensing (3-3), he gave up the go-ahead double to Cleveland pinch hitter Tyler Holt.
After the rough start, Cleveland starter Tyler Bauer settled down to work into the fifth inning. He didn’t give up another run on the night. The Indians then worked their way through seven relievers to hold off the Twins. Kyle Crockett (3-0) picked up the win, Cody Allen worked a scoreless ninth to pick up his 16th save.
Mauer was 2-for-4 with the RBI double and a run scored for the Twins. Eduardo Escobar also had a pair of hits for the Twins.
The loss drops the Twins to 55-69 on the year, a season-worst 14 games under .500.
#MNTwins in danger zone, on pace to win 72 games … and lose 90 for a 4th straight year.
— RandBall (@RandBall) August 20, 2014
Ricky Nolasco (5-8) heads to the mound for Minnesota on Wednesday night against Cleveland’s T. J. House. First pitch is at 7:10.
