DeVries, Twins blank Indians

Associated Press

minneapolis

Cole DeVries pitched six scoreless innings to win his third straight start and the Minnesota Twins beat the Cleveland Indians 3-0 on Saturday night.

Joe Mauer had an RBI single and Josh Willingham added a sacrifice fly in a two-run third inning for Minnesota, which had lost four of its past five games.

Ben Revere had two hits and two stolen bases for the Twins, who are trying to avoid ending consecutive seasons in the AL Central basement and now trail Cleveland — which led the division at one point in June — by just two games.

DeVries (5-5) gave up four hits and walked one. A trio of relievers combined for three hitless innings, with Glen Perkins working the ninth for his 11th save in 14 chances.

Indians starter Zach McAllister (5-7) made it through only three innings in losing his third straight decision. He allowed two runs on two hits and three walks.

DeVries could be putting himself in the mix for a Twins rotation that could have several open spots heading into next season. The rookie right-hander has allowed just four earned runs over his last four starts, spanning 231/3 innings.

Minnesota’s rotation has been completely turned over from the beginning of the season, when the team was counting on a rotation led by Carl Pavano and Francisco Liriano. Veteran Scott Baker never made it to his first start before being shut down with an elbow strain that eventually led to Tommy John surgery, and the patchwork began almost as soon as the team broke from spring training.

Since Pavano was put on the disabled list June 4 and Liriano later traded to the White Sox, the rotation has been a tryout of sorts for several pitchers not expected to reach the majors this season. DeVries wasn’t even on the team’s 40-man roster at the beginning of the season.