CLEVELAND, Ohio – Mike Clevinger went the sure way to get back in the good grace of his teammates Wednesday night at Progressive Field. He just did what he does best – pitch.
Clevinger began his first start in three weeks by allowing a leadoff homer for Max Kepler. Not a good way to erase memory of his night in Chicago with fellow right-hander Zach Plesac costing him the 30-day version of baseball.
Then he did fine when the Indians gathered for the second straight night to defeat the Twins, 6-3, and go after a half game of the first in AL Central. The Twins, Indians and White Sox are within half a game of each other.
Clevinger allowed two runs on eight hits in a six-inning no-decision. He struck out six and ran one on 86 fields. It was a win-win night for Chris Antonetti, president of baseball operations. He can keep Clevinger to strengthen one of the strongest rotations in the major leagues. Or he could trade him in by Monday’s deadline to bring in a hitter to help the suspected Indians’ transgression.
“I just thought about how tight this division is, how tight this race is now and how each pitch means something,” Clevinger said. “It has my fear of doing good for my redemption, shadow. I could not get it out of my head how close we were to them and this team is just rolling now and I just wanted to keep the same atmosphere going.”
Acting manager Sandy Alomar said Clevinger showed some rust and anxiety early in the game.
“After settling in, he had the best fastball he’s had all year,” Alomar said. “He was impressive after not being on the mound for more than two weeks.”
As for the just Gregory Clevinger interacting with his teammates, Alomar said he was quiet for the game.
“Normally he’s kind of rah-rah-rah,” Alomar said. “Give high fives to everyone. He was quieter today. He wanted to make sure he was accepted by the boys. He carried that the first few innings to the mound, but after a while he calmed down and was the same man. I think the boys did him good with accepting. ”
That defensive defense struck for three runs in the eighth to break a 3-3 tie and begin the final half of the 60-game sprint in style. The double of Tyler Naquin, the sacrificial flight of Greg Allen and the single of Cesar Hernandez accounted for the race when nine butchers went to the plate.
Sergio Romo, who barked on the bench of the Indians on Monday after hitting a rally in the eighth inning of a 3-2 Twins win, started the eighth. Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor were over him from the extreme end of the Indians’ dugout. Chatter travels a long way in an empty ballpark.
Carlos Santana opened the eighth with a single. Franmil Reyes ran as the chatter became louder from the bench. Tyler Naquin doubled the left field line for a 4-3 lead when Santana scored and Reyes went to third. Allen provided Reyes with a sacrificial flight to the right. Romo (0-1) beat Roberto Perez with a pitch to end his night. Lefty Danny Coulombe relieved when Delino DeShields moved Naquin to third with a flyball to the right. Hernandez made it 6-3 with a single.
“We come to the ballpark to win every day,” Naquin said. “You have to play hard until the very end. Every pitch and every inch counts. Minnesota is a good team there and we just have to play hard. ”
Oliver Perez, Phil Maton (2-0) and Brad Hand worked in relief of Clevinger. Hand retired the Twins in order in the ninth for his ninth save in as many games. Maton went 1 2/3 scoreless inning for the win.
The Indians took a 3-2 lead over Ramirez’s three-run homer in Jose Berrios’ third. It hit the wall just off the right field line and hit the base of the foul pile. The Twins asked the referees to review the hit to see if it was wrong, but the honest call stood.
Instant replay played a role in the rally that took a 2-0 Twins lead.
DeShields opened the inning with a single and steel second. He was called out by referee Ron Kulpa, but the Indians challenged the call. The review took 2:10, but the call on the field was reversed. Hernandez followed with a walk and Ramirez hit a 1-0 change for his fifth homer, all at Progressive Field. Ramirez came into the game and hit .193 (6-for-31) without homers against Berrios.
Clevinger secured the lead through the sixth in his first start since Aug. 5 against the Reds. Perez started the seventh that allowed one deserved run this season in 12 appearances. Pinch-hitter Ehire Adrianza opened the inning with a double from the midfield wall. Adrianza moved to third on a flyball to the right by Alex Avila and scored on Jake Cave’s bloop single in shallow right over an inside field to make it 3-3.
Maton lightened and finished the inning by getting Jorge Polanco to hit in a double play. It was Perez’s first blown save of the season. The Cave hit was just the second that Perez has allowed a left this year.
Kepler gave the Twins a 1-0 lead at Clevinger’s third pitch. Kepler rode a 2-0 lead in the right field seats for his third leadoff homer of the season and second of Clevinger. Kepler likes to strike against the Indians. It was his 16th homer against the Indians and 12th at Progressive Field.
However, Kepler left the game in the second after fouling a ball from his right foot.
LaMonte Wade gave the Twins a 2-0 lead with a single in the second. Miguel Sano scored after his one-time double.
Fanatics has released Cleveland Indians face masks, with two charities good for sale. See details and product links below.
New Indian face masks for sale: Here you can buy Cleveland Indian-themed face masks for coronavirus protection, including one mask ($ 14.99) and a 3-pack ($ 24.99). All MLB proceeds donated to charity.
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