Twins 3, Indians 0
Andrew Albers tossed a two-hit shutout in his second major-league start and Brian Dozier led off the first inning with a home run as host Minnesota continued its strong play in August.
Trevor Plouffe added a two-run blast for the Twins, who recorded only four hits but posted their eighth win in 12 games this month.
Albers (2-0) held Cleveland to one hit over the first seven innings before yielding a one-out single by Yan Gomes in the eighth. The 27-year-old Canadian left-hander, who struck out two without issuing a walk, has allowed six hits over 17 1/3 scoreless innings in his first two big-league outings.
Dozier gave Albers all the offensive support he needed when he deposited Danny Salazar's second pitch of the night over the wall in left-center field for his 12th homer. After Oswaldo Arcia led off the second with an infield single, Plouffe belted his 11th of the season to left for a 3-0 lead.
Salazar (1-1) surrendered three runs on three hits and three walks in four innings. Jason Kipnis recorded the other single for the slumping Indians, who lost for the seventh time in eight games but remained seven games behind first-place Detroit in the American League Central.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Cleveland also dropped 4 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay for the second AL wild-card spot. ... The Twins evened their home record at 27-27 with the victory. ... Plouffe registered Minnesota's fourth and final hit, a two-out single in the eighth inning.