Indians 8, Twins 2
CLEVELAND -- Danny Salazar struck out 11 and combined with two relievers on a two-hitter, David Murphy had four hits and Lonnie Chisenhall belted a three-run homer as the Cleveland Indians avoided a three-game sweep at the hands of the Minnesota Twins with an 8-2 victory Sunday at Progressive Field.
Salazar (4-1), a 25-year-old right-hander, gave up a home run to second baseman Brian Dozier leading off the game, then retired the next 21 batters in a row before being removed from the game after the seventh inning. Salazar did not walk a batter.
In his last three starts, Salazar has pitched 20 innings and has 27 strikeouts and no walks. Over his last two starts he has retired 28 of the last 29 batters he has faced, striking out 14 of them.
Cleveland's victory snaps the Twins' four-game winning streak and the Indians' three-game losing streak.
Trailing 1-0, the Indians tied it with a run in the bottom of the first off right-hander Trevor May. Second baseman Jason Kipnis led off with a double and he scored on a single by first baseman Carlos Santana.
The Indians blew it open with a five-run fourth inning in which they sent nine batters to the plate. With one out catcher Roberto Perez walked. Shortstop Zach Walters flied out for the second out, but then May gave up five consecutive hits.
Kipnis tripled to center field, scoring Perez and giving the Indians a 2-0 lead. Santana singled home Kipnis to make it 3-0. Left fielder Michael Brantley followed with a single, moving Santana to third.
Third baseman Chisenhall then hit a line drive into the seats in right field for his third home run, a three-run blast that extended the Cleveland lead to 6-1.
May (2-3) was removed from the game after the fourth inning. He gave up six runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and three walks.
Right-hander Ryan Pressly relieved May to start the fifth inning, and the Indians greeted Pressly with a two-run rally. Center fielder Michael Bourn led off with a single and went to second when Perez drew a walk.
The runners moved to second and third on a wild pitch by Pressly, who then retired Walters on a flyout for the first out. But Kipnis singled to center, scoring Bourn to make it a 7-1 lead. Santana followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring Perez and giving the Indians an 8-1 lead.
After giving up the home run to Dozier leading off the first inning, Salazar retired the next 21 batters in a row with only three balls leaving the infield. He struck six in a row when he struck out the side in the fifth and sixth innings.
Minnesota's other run came on an RBI single by first baseman Joe Mauer in the ninth inning.
Right-handers Zach McAllister and Cody Allen followed Salazar to the mound and combined for five strikeouts, giving Cleveland pitchers 16 strikeouts for the game.
NOTES: Indians INF Zach Walters made his second career start at shortstop. Walters replaced struggling SS Jose Ramirez, who is hitting .173 overall and .167 in May. ... In 13 games since being inserted into the leadoff spot, Indians 2B Jason Kipnis is hitting .333 (18-54) with four doubles, four home runs, seven RBIs and 10 runs scored. ... OF Torii Hunter needs four more home runs to tie Gary Gaetti (201) for seventh on the Twins' all-time list, and three RBIs to tie Rod Carew (733) for seventh on the club's all-time list.