Twins tame Indians bats

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

The Cleveland Indians had nine hits Sunday and only one of them did any damage.

Tyler Duffey pitched seven scoreless innings, Eddie Rosario drove in three runs and the Minnesota Twins won their first road series of the season with a 5-1 victory over Cleveland.

“On a day like today, you’re going to have to string some hits together,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “We weren’t able to do that.”

Jason Kipnis’ eighth-inning homer accounted for Cleveland’s lone run. The remaining eight hits were singles, and seven came with two outs.

“We weren’t able to get guys on early in innings and we didn’t get any two-out hits,” Francona said.

Cleveland, which stranded nine runners, has lost four of six.

Trevor Bauer (3-1) kept the Indians in the game, allowing three runs in 6 2/3 innings.

“Everything was pretty good, actually,” he said. “We were on the winning end of a game like this last time I pitched and we ended up losing it this time.”

Bauer, who retired 12 straight after Minnesota scored twice in the second, struck out eight.

“If he throws like that, pitches like that, on a lot of nights, we’re saying, ‘Hey, man, he did a good job.’ He got us deep enough into the game where we could turn it over to the bullpen,” Francona said.

Duffey (1-2) allowed six hits and struck out six, giving the last-place Twins back-to-back wins for only the third time this year. Minnesota (10-26) broke an eight-game losing streak Saturday and has won four of six against Cleveland this season.

Michael Martinez, called up by Cleveland after Michael Brantley was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation Saturday, was one of three Indians players with two hits.