Indians 5, Twins 1
Scott Kazmir pitched seven strong innings and Jason Kipnis knocked in three runs as host Cleveland defeated Minnesota for its seventh victory in nine games.
Kazmir (4-4) allowed one run, five hits and did not walk a batter while striking out seven - including the final two batters he faced with a runner at second base. Mark Reynolds recorded two hits and an RBI and Michael Bourn added two singles for the Indians, who improved to 21-8 at home since April 30.
Brian Dozier homered for the fourth time in the last five games and Trevor Plouffe had a pair of hits for the Twins, who saw their three-game win streak come to an end. Minnesota starter Samuel Deduno (3-2) went six-plus innings, yielding four runs on six hits.
Michael Brantley doubled with one out in the second and came home on a single by Reynolds to left-center field for a 1-0 lead. Drew Stubbs walked, moved to third on a Bourn single and sprinted to the plate on a Kipnis sacrifice fly behind second base to make it 2-0 in the third.
Dozier pulled the Twins within 2-1 by leading off the sixth with a solo blast into the left-field seats before the Indians sealed it by scoring three times in the seventh. Stubbs singled home the first and Kipnis capped the rally with a two-out, two-run single just over shortstop to give the Indians a 5-1 advantage.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Indians 1B Nick Swisher, out since last Sunday with a sore left shoulder, took batting practice on the field Friday and could return this weekend. … The Twins dropped to 13-18 against the American League Central this season, including 1-3 vs. the Indians. Cleveland is 12-12 vs. division foes. … Indians 3B Lonnie Chisenhall snapped an 0-for-18 slump with a single in the second inning.