Indians Take Game 2 10-2, Split Doubleheader With Twins
CLEVELAND (AP) — Cody Anderson pitched seven shutout innings and Jose Ramirez hit a three-run homer, leading the Cleveland Indians to a 10-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins Wednesday night to split a doubleheader and stay alive in the AL wild-card race.
Minnesota won the first game 7-1 and pulled to one game behind the Angels for the second wild-card spot — Los Angeles lost to Oakland Wednesday night.
Cleveland is five games behind L.A. and still faced potential elimination Wednesday if the Astros beat the Mariners later.
Anderson (7-3) held the Twins to two hits and won his fifth straight start.
Cleveland scored four runs in the second off Mike Pelfrey (6-11), who lasted 1 2-3 innings, and Francisco Lindor, continuing his case for rookie of the year, belted a two-run homer in the fourth.
Ramirez angered the Twins by flipping his bat after hitting his homer in the eighth. Manager Paul Molitor, along with several players, came to the top step of the dugout and yelled at Ramirez as he crossed home plate.
Ramirez, Michael Martinez and Carlos Santana drove in runs in the second. Adam Moore added an RBI single in the third.
Miguel Sano and Eddie Rosario hit solo homers for Minnesota.
Kyle Gibson pitched six shutout innings and Torii Hunter had a three-run double in the fourth, leading Minnesota to the Game 1 win, but the momentum didn't carry over to the nightcap.
Abraham Almonte started the second with a double and scored on Martinez's one-out single. Martinez took second on center fielder Aaron Hicks' throwing error and scored on Ramirez's double to left-center.
Ramirez took third on Lindor's infield hit. Lindor's high chopper was fielded by first baseman Joe Mauer, who tossed to Pelfrey at the bag.
First base umpire Brian O'Nora ruled Lindor beat the throw. Molitor challenged the play, but the call stood after a review.
Ramirez scored on Pelfrey's wild pitch and Santana's single scored Lindor for a 4-0 lead.
Gibson (11-11) struck out a career-high nine in the opener. Carlos Carrasco (14-12) allowed five runs in three-plus innings in his final start of the season.
Joe Mauer and rookie Byron Buxton homered in Game 1.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: RHP Phil Hughes (virus), who was scratched from his Monday start, pitched the fifth inning of the second game.
Indians: 3B Giovanny Urshela (sore right shoulder) could return to the lineup Thursday. He hasn't played since Sept. 17.
UP NEXT
Twins: RHP Tyler Duffey has not lost in his last eight starts, going 5-0 with a 2.17 ERA. He went six shutout innings in a 4-1 win over the Indians on Aug. 15.
Indians: RHP Trevor Bauer returns to the rotation in order to give RHP Josh Tomlin an extra day between starts. Bauer only made one appearance in relief.
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