Twins 4, Indians 1
MINNEAPOLIS -- Tyler Duffey allowed one hit in six innings and the Minnesota Twins got home runs from Eddie Rosario, Chris Herrmann and Brian Dozier in a 4-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Saturday night at Target Field.
Duffey's second career major league start was much smoother than his first. He cruised through five innings without allowing a hit and had six strikeouts during that span.
Though Duffey did walk four batters in the first five innings, he limited the damage. His fourth walk came with one out in the fifth but was quickly erased when Cleveland's Mike Aviles grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Duffey didn't give up a hit until the sixth. With one out, Cleveland shortstop Francisco Lindor sent a double to the gap in right center but was stranded at second to end the inning.
That closed the book on Duffey's first major league victory. He lowered his ERA from 27.00 after his debut to 6.75, striking out seven and walking five.
In Duffey's big league debut on Aug. 5, he was tagged for six runs and five hits in two innings against Toronto. He was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Friday for Saturday's start. The right-hander is 7-8 with a 2.54 ERA in 22 combined starts between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Rochester.
Cleveland right-hander Josh Tomlin, making his season debut after spending the year with Triple-A Columbus while working his way back from offseason shoulder surgery, nearly matched Duffey.
Tomlin worked four scoreless innings before serving up a home run to Rosario in the fifth for the first run. One batter later, Herrmann followed with a shot to right, his second homer of the year, to put the Twins up 2-0.
Tomlin was lifted after 6 1/3 innings. He allowed five hits.
Dozier hit a two-run homer to left in the eighth off reliever Bryan Shaw. It was Dozier's 25th home run of the year, two more than his previous career high he set last season.
The Indians' run came in the ninth on a two-out single by catcher Roberto Perez off Twins closer Glen Perkins.
Lindor finished with two of Cleveland's four hits.
NOTES: Cleveland recalled RHP Josh Tomlin from Triple-A Columbus before Saturday's game. Additionally, the Indians activated OF Ryan Raburn from the bereavement list. To make room on the roster for Tomlin and Raburn, Cleveland optioned OF Zach Walters and RHP Shawn Armstrong to Triple-A Columbus. ... Twins manager Paul Molitor said Saturday that LHP Tommy Milone will be activated from the disabled list before Sunday's game, which he will start. A corresponding roster move has not yet been announced. ... Minnesota RF Torii Hunter needs one home run to tie Bob Allison for fifth on the Twins' careerlist. Hunter entered Saturday with 210 career home runs as a Twin. ... The Twins and Indians conclude the three-game series on Sunday at Target Field. Cleveland will send RHP Carlos Carrasco (11-8, 3.68 ERA) to the mound against Milone (5-3, 3.76).