Twins 10, Indians 7
Chris Colabello recorded a pair of hits and knocked in four runs as visiting Minnesota defeated Cleveland in the rubber match of a three-game series.
Joe Mauer collected three hits and scored twice while Jason Kubel added two hits and an RBI for the Twins, who blew a 6-2 lead before Colabello’s bases-loaded double in the sixth put them ahead for good. Anthony Swarzak (1-0) gave up two runs over 1 1/3 innings for the win and Glen Perkins pitched a perfect ninth for his second save.
Jason Kipnis knocked in three runs, David Murphy was 4-for-5 with an RBI and Yan Gomes homered for the Indians. Blake Wood (0-1) retired only two batters and gave up three runs on one hit to take the loss after starter Justin Masterson struggled, allowing six runs (five earned) over 3 2/3 innings.
Kurt Suzuki singled in a run while Kubel doubled and scored on a double play in the second before Gomes’ two-run blast to left field tied it in the bottom of the frame. Run-scoring singles by Trevor Plouffe and Kubel, along with an error, brought home three in the third for Minnesota and Colabello’s RBI single in the fourth made it 6-2.
Kipnis’ three-run double off the left-field wall with two outs in the fourth and Murphy’s RBI double with one away in the fifth forged a 6-6 tie for the Indians. However, Wood walked two and hit a batter with one out in the sixth before Colabello drilled a double that bounced to the left-center field wall to give the Twins a three-run cushion again.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Minnesota LF Josh Willingham was hit on the hand with a pitch in the first inning and was replaced by Jason Bartlett in the second. … Cleveland gave up the first run for the fifth straight game and has been outscored 19-3 in the opening three innings during the first six contests. … Twins starter Ricky Nolasco gave up five runs on seven hits and four walks over four innings.