Salazar tames Twins

Minnesota eventually clinches a wild-card berth

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

For months, the Minnesota Twins have done it the hard way, scrapping to an unexpected season.

On Wednesday night, they needed some help.

The turnaround Twins missed a chance to clinch a playoff spot on their own as Danny Salazar gave Cleveland’s brain trust more to consider with a strong start and Yan Gomes homered, lifting the Indians to a 4-2 win.

When the game ended, Minnesota’s players quickly left the field and headed to their clubhouse to watch Los Angeles and Chicago. Eventually, the White Sox defeated the Angels, 6-4, in 10 innings, allowing the Twins to clinch their first postseason trip since 2010.

It’s not the way manager Paul Molitor envisioned a clinching.

“You’d like to have a chance to win to get in, but now we just have to wait to see what happens,” Molitor said right after their loss to the Indians.

The Indians improved to 30-3 since Aug. 24 and stayed one game ahead of Houston for the best record in the AL and home-field advantage until the World Series.

The Twins made it interesting in the ninth, pulling within 4-2 on Jorge Polanco’s two-run homer with one out. But closer Cody Allen stopped Minnesota’s comeback, putting the party plans on hold.

Cleveland scored two runs off Adalberto Mejia (4-7), who hit Gomes with a pitch and the bases loaded in the fourth to force in a run. Gomes later connected for his 14th homer to make it 4-0.

Mejia allowed two runs in 32/3 innings, but was upset that he couldn’t do more.

“I couldn’t get it done, but if the chance comes to throw in a postseason game, I’ll be ready, both mentally and physically,” the left-hander said. “I tried, obviously, but today was one of those days where things happened. But I tried.”

The Twins came in needing just one win to grab the AL’s second wild-card position — the New York Yankees already have the other — and complete a remarkable one-season reversal after losing 103 games in 2016.

Minnesota could be the first team to lose at least 100 games and make the playoffs the following year.

Mike Clevinger (12-5), who will pitch out of Cleveland’s bullpen in the postseason, replaced Salazar in the fifth and got his first win in relief this season.

Salazar allowed one hit and struck out nine in 4 2-3 shutout innings of his last — and perhaps most important — start of the regular season. Manager Terry Francona lifted the right-hander one out before he qualified for the win, a move he made to get Clevinger more comfortable in his new role.

Salazar isn’t guaranteed a spot on Cleveland’s postseason roster, but he made any decision not to include him a little tougher. He’s had a disappointing season, which included a lengthy stint in the minors to work out some issues.

“I thought Danny looked great,” Francona said. “That was really, really encouraging. He worked ahead. He had a good off-speed, whether it was a changeup or breaking ball and had dominant stuff. That was exciting to see.”

Edwin Encarnacion picked up his 104th RBI in the first inning and the Indians made it 2-0 in the fourth when Mejia plunked Gomes.

A throwing error by Minnesota third baseman Eduardo Escobar gave the Indians a 3-0 lead in the fifth.