Twins 6, Indians 5
MINNEAPOLIS -- Miguel Sano's RBI single with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Minnesota Twins to a 6-5 win over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night at Target Field.
Following a one-out double by Brian Dozier, Joe Mauer was intentionally walked, setting up Sano, who hit a 1-1 fastball off Indians closer Cody Allen (0-2) into center field.
With Cleveland trailing 5-4 and down to its final out in the top of the ninth, Mike Napoli crushed a fastball from Twins fill-in closer Kevin Jepsen 420 feet into the second deck in left field, tying the game.
Jepsen (2-3) earned the victory after surrendering a save for the third time this season. He allowed the one run on one hit in one inning.
Minnesota right-hander Ricky Nolasco threw 7 1/3 innings of four-run ball. He allowed a pair of solo homers among five hits but walked none and struck out nine in giving the Twins their longest outing by a starter this season. He was in line for the win until Napoli's homer in the ninth.
Indians right-hander Cody Anderson struggled again, allowing five runs for the third time in as many starts. He yielded 10 hits and a walk over 5 2/3 innings as his ERA rose to 7.65.
Twins catcher Kurt Suzuki had a pair of RBI singles. Danny Santana and Dozier had three hits apiece for Minnesota, and Byung Ho Park added two hits.
Tyler Naquin led the Indians with two hits. Jason Kipnis and Juan Uribe each hit solo homers for Cleveland.
Kipnis went deep in the first inning to give Cleveland a quick 1-0 lead.
Minnesota responded in the bottom of the first, getting a leadoff double from Santana followed by an RBI single to right by Dozier to tie the game at 1-1.
The Twins followed a similar formula to take the lead in the second, getting a leadoff double from Ho Park and a one-out single to center by Suzuki to grab a 2-1 lead.
Uribe blasted the first pitch of the third inning over the left-field wall for his first homer before Park and Suzuki used combined to give Minnesota the lead again in the fourth. Park's double down the left field line set up Suzuki for a two-out single to center.
Four consecutive Twins hitters reached base to start the fifth inning, but a baserunning gaffe by Santana cost Minnesota at least one run.
Santana led off the inning with a single before a bloop single to right bounced away from Indians right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall. Santana, caught between first and second, lagged on his way to third and was thrown out at third.
Replays showed Santana's left hand beat the throw to third, but the Twins had already lost their challenge on a close play at second in the first inning.
Dozier, who advanced to second on the throw, scored on a ground-rule double by Mauer, increasing Minnesota's lead to 4-2.
Cleveland tied the game in the sixth on a Santana RBI double and a Francisco Lindor sacrifice fly.
Eddie Rosario's solo homer in the bottom of the sixth put Minnesota back on top, 5-4.
NOTES: Indians LF Michael Brantley made his first start of the season one day after being activated off the disabled list. Brantley, who missed the first 16 games following offseason shoulder surgery, made a pinch-hitting appearance on Monday. ... Twins RHP Jose Berrios was recalled from Triple-A Rochester. Berrios, the No. 2 prospect in the organization, was 2-0 with a 1.06 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 17 innings over three starts in Rochester this season. ... Twins RHP Ervin Santana was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of back spasms. Santana is 0-1 with a 3.15 ERA in four starts this season. He is expected to miss one start. ... Twins RHP Kyle Gibson was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder strain. Gibson is 0-3 with a 6.10 ERA in four starts this season. ... Twins INF Jorge Polanco was recalled from Rochester. Polanco has one double in six at-bats with Minnesota this season. ... Cleveland and Minnesota will complete their three-game series at Target Field on Wednesday. The Indians will send right-hander Josh Tomlin (2-0, 1.54 ERA) to the bump against Berrios, who will be making his major league debut.