Field Level Media
Jun 6, 2019
Jordan Luplow belted a two-run homer and Roberto Perez added a solo shot in the seventh inning as the host Cleveland Indians posted a 9-7 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday.
Francisco Lindor recorded his third homer in two days, and Jose Ramirez joined Luplow in driving in three runs for the Indians, who have won five of their past eight games.
Byron Buxton launched a three-run homer and Jorge Polanco and Nelson Cruz each added a solo shot for the Twins, who have lost two in a row after winning 10 of their previous 12 contests.
The American League Central rivals resumed play after a 1-hour, 43-minute rain delay prior to the start of the seventh inning. Polanco, who belted a solo homer in the fifth, plated Miguel Sano with an RBI single to left-center field off Nick Wittgren (3-0) in the seventh to give Minnesota a 7-5 lead.
Cleveland answered in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Luplow followed Carlos Santana's leadoff double by depositing a 1-0 fastball from Blake Parker (0-2) over the wall in right-center field. Perez stepped up three batters later, sending a first-pitch fastball over the wall in right field for his ninth homer of the season and second in as many days.
Lindor provided insurance in the eighth inning by crushing a first-pitch offering from Tyler Duffey well over the wall in right field.
Brad Hand made the two-run advantage hold up by retiring the side in the ninth for his 18th save in as many opportunities.
Cleveland's Tyler Clippard allowed three runs in 1 1/3 innings in a spot start after fellow right-hander Carlos Carrasco was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to a blood condition. Clippard was relieved by Tyler Olson, who surrendered a mammoth three-run homer to Buxton in the second inning.
Cruz's solo homer in the third pushed the Twins' lead to 5-1, but the Indians halved the deficit in the bottom of the inning as Lindor scored on a passed ball and Ramirez singled home Santana.
Polanco's 10th homer pushed Minnesota's lead to 6-3 in the fifth inning before Cleveland answered in the bottom of the frame. Luplow's double into the right field corner plated Santana, who came around to score on Ramirez's single.
--Field Level Media