Minnesota Postgame Report: Santana’s HR lifts Indians over Twins

The Minnesota Twins made a late rally, but a late home run by the Cleveland Indians’ first baseman foiled the Twins’ plans for a series sweep.

The Minnesota Twins came into this weekend hoping to put some distance between themselves and the Cleveland Indians. With their lead in the division whittled down to 5 1/2 games entering Friday, the Twins took control in the first two games picking up a 5-3 victory on Friday night and a 6-2 win on Saturday.

Minnesota would have the chance to sweep the Indians on Sunday afternoon, but with an off start by Jose Berrios and a late home run by Carlos Santana, Cleveland was able to salvage the series with a 4-3 victory at Progressive Field on Sunday afternoon. With the Twins loss, they now own a 6 1/2 game lead in the division.

Twin Takeaways – The Bad

For the third straight game, the Twins didn’t get much in terms of volume from their starting pitching. Although it worked out fine when Jake Odorizzi allowed just one run over 5 1/3 innings coming off the injured list on Saturday, Kyle Gibson and Berrios couldn’t do their jobs on Friday and Sunday.

On Sunday, Berrios didn’t look like the ace that Twins fans have come to know. Going up against Shane Bieber, who threw 6 1/3 strong innings, Berrios didn’t have his control and that cost him at several portions of the game. Jose Ramirez would start the scoring with an RBI double in the first inning while Greg Allen and Tyler Naquin would collect RBI singles in the fourth to put the Twins in an early 3-0 hole.

Such was the afternoon for the Twins ace, as he allowed three runs on six hits, three walks and earned six strikeouts in a five-inning outing that required 92 pitches (60 strikes).

In what was a third straight heavy load for the bullpen, Trevor May would come on in the bottom of the seventh and easily dispatch the first two batters before allowing Santana’s 21st home run of the season that would prove to be the difference.

Twin Takeaways – The Good

If there was a positive coming out of this game, it was the traditional moral victory that the Twins never quit. After being shut down by Bieber for the first six innings, the Twins would mount a rally in the seventh inning getting two men on before Marwin Gonzalez singled to drive in Luis Arraez.

After a Miguel Sano single, which extended his hitting streak to 11 games, Jake Cave would be hit by a Bieber pitch with the bases loaded to bring the Twins within a 3-2 score. Two batters later, Max Kepler would hit a flair out to center field that would drive in Gonzalez and tie the game at 3-3.

Another positive development was the outing for Zack Littell, who pitched a scoreless inning of relief. Since allowing eight runs against Tampa Bay on May 30, Littell hasn’t allowed a run in nine innings with opponents hitting just .250 against the right-hander.

Up Next

After an off day on Monday, the Twins will return to Target Field for the first time in the second half as they host a two-game series with the New York Mets. The Twins will send Michael Pineda (6-4, 4.56 ERA) to the mound, which has been a good thing lately as he allowed just one run in four of his final five starts before the All-Star break.

Opposing Pineda will be Zack Wheeler, who has been a part of a frustrating season for the Mets. The right-hander has been part of trade talks and could be on the Twins radar and his 6-6 record and 4.69 ERA won’t stop him from being a hot commodity in the coming weeks.