Indians 9, Twins 8: Another spirited comeback, another loss

Coming off a 14-inning loss and a very short Fernando Romero start, the Twins needed Jake Odorizzi to stanch the bleeding, especially given the opponent: AL Central-leading Cleveland.

That did not happen.

Odorizzi did not make it out of the fourth inning, surrendering seven runs in 9-8 loss, sending the Twins to a bleak 6.5 games back of Cleveland with June starting Friday.

The Cuyahogans pounced on Odorizzi early, notching three runs in the first. They followed it up in the fourth with a power surge courtesy of a 3-run dong from Francisco Lindor and a solo jack from Jose Ramirez, the latter of which chased Odorizzi. After Taylor Rogers entered, Melky Cabrera contributed an RBI when Mitch Garver was unable to field a throw at home that would have probably gotten Edwin Encarnacion.

8-0, visitors.

And just like on Wednesday, faced with with a steep deficit, the deservedly maligned Twins offense climbed back into the game.

Cleveland starter Shane Bieber, making his first major league appearance, wasn’t bad. In fact, the Twins were stifled through four innings. Robbie Grossman got the team on the board with an RBI single in the fifth, followed by Greatest Minnesota Twin Ever Ryan LaMarre’s RBI single.

Minnesota chased Bieber in the 6th after back-to-back solo dongs by Logan Morrison and Eduardo Escobar. This is precisely when the game got interesting, as Cleveland’s suspect bullpen lived down to its reputation.

Four Cleveland relievers pitched in the 7th inning. When it was all done, the game was tied, courtesy of an Eddie Rosario RBI single and a 3-run oppo dong by Miguel Sano.

Unfortunately, Cleveland still had a Lindor.

The All-Star stepped to the plate in the top of the 8th and annihilated an Addison Reed slider, taking the lead back for the ‘Land. Lindor finished the night with two dongs and two doubles.

Cody Allen notched a 4-out save for Cleveland, and that was that.

Should probably win the next three, fellas.

STUDS: Lindor, Sano

DUDS: Pitchers, mostly

ROBOT ROLL CALL: