Indians, Sowers fall, 4-1

Joe Mauer’s two-run homer in the seventh spoiled a strong start by Sowers.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Joe Mauer’s two-run homer in the seventh inning spoiled another strong start by Jeremy Sowers against the Twins in Minnesota’s 4-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Friday night.

Mauer’s seventh homer of the season broke a 1-1 tie and Brendan Harris added an RBI double to back Nick Blackburn (8-6), who gave up just one run on six hits in seven innings as Minnesota won for the sixth time in seven games.

For the second straight start against Minnesota, Sowers (1-6) took a perfect game into the sixth inning before the Twins spoiled it with a leadoff double. Back on July 27, it was Craig Monroe who got to Sowers.

This time around, Harris hit one to left field and later scored on a bloop single by Carlos Gomez for a 1-0 lead.

Kelly Shoppach led off the seventh with a double and scored on a base hit by pinch-hitter Jhonny Peralta to tie the game, but Blackburn struck out Jamey Carroll with the bases loaded to end the inning and limit the damage.

After Mauer’s two-run homer to the opposite field put the Twins ahead 3-1, Harris doubled home Randy Ruiz to chase Sowers, who gave up four runs on six hits in 6 2-3 innings.

Joe Nathan pitched the ninth for his 30th save in 32 chances.

Shoppach went 2-for-4 in his first game since tying a major league record with five extra base hits — three doubles and two homers — in a 13-inning loss to Detroit on Wednesday.

He didn’t get much help from the rest of his battery mates, who were stymied by Blackburn’s smooth mix of curveballs and well-placed fastballs.

It was an efficient and poised performance from the 26-year-old Blackburn, who is actually the second-oldest pitcher in the Twins rotation after veteran Livan Hernandez was cut loose on Friday to make room for 24-year-old Francisco Liriano.

Blackburn is just five months younger than Scott Baker in a rotation that also includes 25-year-old Glen Perkins and 23-year-old Kevin Slowey.

The Twins are banking that these young guns will be able to hold over the final two months of what should be a tightly contested pennant race with the White Sox.