Twins starter Samuel Deduno struggled early, and the game absolutely dragged for most of its three hours and forty minutes--but in the end the Twins were able to capitalize on errors by the Indians to overcome a four-run deficit for the win.
Ben Revere singled in the top of the first inning, and scored the game's first run off an RBI hit from Justin Morneau. The Twins lead was short lived, as Samuel Deduno proceeded to give up four runs over the next two innings, including a two-run homerun to Shelly Duncan in the bottom of the second. Then the game entered some kind of rift in the space-time continuum and bored everyone to tears for the next five innings.
Things didn't get interesting until the top of the seventh inning. An error by Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera kept the inning alive long enough for Brian Dozier to score the Twins' second run of the game, and then Morneau hit a ball that Jason Kipnis let roll straight between his legs, allowing Jamey Carroll and Joe Mauer to score runs three and four.
Entering the ninth inning down only one run, the Twins proceeded to knock around Indians closer Chris Perez. Josh Willingham hit a single and was replaced by pinch-runner Darin Mastroianni, who stole second and then scored when Justin Morneau hit a ball that bounced off the first base baggy and out of Casey Kotchman's reach. Ryan Doumit followed up with a double, before Tsuyoshi Nishioka drove in the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly to left field. Brian Dozier drove in a couple more insurance runs before Glen Perkins came in and showed the Indians how to properly close a game.
The loss marked the Indians' 11th in a row, just one loss shy of the franchise's record losing streak--which the Twins will attempt to hand them tomorrow.
Studs and duds after the jump.
Studs:
- The Cleveland Indians: Something is seriously messed up when the opposing team scores 7 runs yet is only credited 4 total RBIs.
- Ryan Doumit: 3-for-5, 1 run.
- Glen Perkins: 1 IP, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 save.
- Ben Revere: Extended hitting streak to 21 games.
Duds:
- Samuel Deduno: 4 IP, 5 hits, 5 walks, 4 earned runs.
- Twinkie Town Police: Entered game thread, told everyone to stop using inside jokes, giant party pooper.