Kluber’s slide helps Twins snap skid
Associated Press
cleveland
Corey Kluber’s roller-coaster season is again sliding in the wrong direction.
The former American League Cy Young Award winner gave up four runs in 6 2/3 innings Saturday, allowing the Minnesota Twins to snap an eight-game losing streak with a 6-3 victory over the Indians.
Kluber (2-5) dropped his second straight start after posting a pair of wins, raising his season ERA to 4.30. The right-hander struck out seven, walked three, and surrendered seven hits on a wet, windy afternoon at Progressive Field.
“I thought Corey was good early, but they just kept adding on the longer he went,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. “There were some extenuating circumstances with the weather, but the bottom half of their order hurt us more than we’d like.”
Twins catcher Juan Centeno — batting eighth — hit his first major league homer in the fifth, a two-run shot that put Minnesota ahead for good.
No. 7 hitter Eddie Rosario and No. 9 hitter Danny Santana also had success against Kluber, collecting one run and one hit apiece. On the day, the bottom third of the Twins’ batting order went 5 for 11, scored five times and had four RBIs.
“That didn’t bother me, where those guys are in the lineup,” Kluber said. “Regardless of who hits or scores runs, it all counts the same.”
Catcher Yan Gomes hit his second homer in two days for the Indians, who have alternated wins and losses for the last eight games. Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez drove in runs, while Tyler Naquin and Lindor had two hits apiece.
Gomes hit his home run off closer Kevin Jepsen in the ninth, three innings after he was struck on the left side of his neck by the baseball. Kluber hit Brian Dozier on the left leg with a pitch, which ricocheted directly back at Gomes.
Earlier in the sixth, Cleveland left fielder Rajai Davis slipped and fell while tracking a fly ball. It was ruled a hit for Trevor Plouffe, who scored three batters later.
“I thought Corey did his best keeping us in the ballgame today,” Gomes said. “The ball to Centeno was a decent pitch that caught a little bit of the plate, but other than that, I thought he worked well.”
Kluber went 18-9 in his 2014 Cy Young season, but has an 11-21 record since. Francona remains confident that his ace will bounce back to top form.
“I know that when he pitches, we still really like him out there,” the skipper said.
Twins right-hander Ervin Santana (1-2) earned the win with six innings of one-run ball. He is 2-6 with a 5.54 ERA in 10 career starts in Cleveland, including a no-hitter on July 27, 2011 while pitching for the Angels.
UNUSUAL DELAY
Home plate umpire Angel Hernandez halted play for several minutes in the top of the sixth because rain was affecting his vision. Though Francona and Kluber said they have never seen such a stoppage, Gomes appreciated the gesture. “It was blowing straight through my mask and I couldn’t see, either,” he said, laughing. “Obviously, that’s important for both of us.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Indians: OF Michael Brantley (right shoulder soreness) was placed on the 15-day disabled list. He will be examined Tuesday in Delaware by Dr. Craig Morgan, who operated on his torn labrum in November.