Indians beat Twins, move up in playoff race
Associated Press
Minneapolis
Yan Gomes homered and drove in four runs to help the Cleveland Indians advance in the AL wild-card race by beating the Minnesota Twins 7-3 on a rainy Saturday night.
The Indians are 31/2 games out of the second wild-card spot after Oakland, Kansas City and Seattle all lost ahead of them earlier in the day.
The start of the game was delayed for more than two hours because of rain.
Gomes, who had three hits, broke it open with a three-run homer off Trevor May (3-5) in the fifth inning that made it 7-2.
T.J. House (4-3) was removed after Joe Mauer and Kennys Vargas singled to start the sixth. Zach McAllister came in and struck out the side.
Brian Dozier had three hits for Minnesota, including his 21st homer in the eighth.
All seven of Cleveland’s runs came with two outs against May. Mike Aviles hit a two-run triple, Michael Bourn and Gomes added RBI singles.
The Indians finish the series Sunday at Target Field, then resume a suspended game Monday against Kansas City. Cleveland leads 4-2 in the bottom of the 10th.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Indians: 2B Jason Kipnis remains day-to-day with a hamstring injury. He hasn’t played since Thursday.
Twins: All-Star closer Glen Perkins, shut down for the season on Friday with a left forearm strain and secondary nerve irritation, said he’s pitched through discomfort the last month. The injury lowered his velocity and limited use of his slider. He will rest for a couple weeks, then meet with the Twins’ training staff in early October to develop a strengthening and maintenance program. ... CF Aaron Hicks was scratched from the lineup with back stiffness.
UP NEXT
Corey Kluber (16-9, 2.54) starts for Cleveland today against Anthony Swarzak (3-1, 4.42). Kluber struck out a career-high 14 in his last start against Houston, the first Indians pitcher to fan at least 14 since Bartolo Colon on May 29, 1998. Swarzak will be making this third start of the season and 30th of his career. As a starter, the right-hander is 7-17 with a 5.85 ERA.