Twins Shut Down By Kluber Again In 6-1 Loss
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — For the second time in a week, the Minnesota Twins couldn't get much going against Cleveland Indians ace Corey Kluber.
Kluber flirted with a no-hitter for the second consecutive outing against the Twins before finishing with a one-hitter in his second straight complete game as Cleveland cruised to a 6-1 win Friday night.
Kluber (8-12) gave up just a solo home run to Joe Mauer and struck out seven in his fourth complete game of the season as the Twins dropped their second consecutive home game.
"We get one hit, and it's kind of all too familiar from last time," Twins manager Paul Molitor said, tipping his cap to Kluber. "He's good, his numbers back it up, approaching 200 strikeouts and all those kinds of things. I don't know if we adjusted very well from last game, kind of fell into the same pattern a little bit."
Trevor May (8-8) gave up two runs and five hits in three innings in his first start for Minnesota since moving to the bullpen in early June.
Giovanny Urshela had two hits, including a two-run homer for Cleveland. Francisco Lindor, Lonnie Chisenhall and Mike Aviles each had three hits to help the Indians win for the fifth time in six games.
Kluber took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in his last start, also against Minnesota, before Mauer singled with two outs. This time, the only blemish on Kluber's line before Mauer's home run with two outs in the fourth was a walk to rookie Miguel Sano in the second inning. Kluber said his approach was very similar to his start versus the Twins in Cleveland on Sunday.
"If it wouldn't have gone well last time then I think you change stuff, but I think we had a good game plan coming in based off the last time," Kluber said. "It all comes down to just executing pitches. If you have a good one or a bad one the last time against a team it can be the total opposite next time."
In three starts against the Twins this season, Kluber has given up four runs on seven hits in 26 innings.
May entered the rotation with Minnesota short-handed because of injuries to Phil Hughes and Tommy Milone. Milone will be activated to start Sunday.
A short stint for May, who made 16 starts earlier this season, was expected. But the big right-hander ran into trouble in the second inning after Urshela followed Abraham Almonte's double with his fifth home run.
"Might have just been the wrong pitch," May said of Urshela's homer. "The changeup was down. There were some hit really hard. There were a lot of balls hit a little bit harder than I thought."
DON'T RUN ON ROSARIO
The Indians had a chance to tack on more runs against May in the second but Eddie Rosario picked up his pitcher with a perfect throw home from left field to nab Chisenhall trying to score. Rosario later threw out Lindor trying to stretch a single into a double.
Rosario has an outfield assist in three straight games and 10 for the season, which is first among all rookies.
"I think that's his 55th assist when I'm pitching," May joked. "I've had at least five or six guys thrown out at home this year, which is huge. I'm forever thankful and glad we have guys with cannons out there. I've never seen a throw that perfect."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Indians: OF Michael Brantley was out of the lineup with a sore left throwing shoulder and manager Terry Francona said he could be out of the lineup for a "couple, three days." Brantley had an MRI, which showed no damage, and had an injection to help alleviate the pain.
Twins: RHP Blaine Boyer was placed on the disabled list early Friday with right elbow inflammation. An MRI didn't reveal any damage to the elbow but Molitor said Boyer is dealing with tenderness in the elbow.
UP NEXT
Indians: RHP Josh Tomlin will make his first major-league start of the season after recovering from right shoulder surgery in April.
Twins: Tyler Duffey (0-1, 27.00 ERA) will make his second major-league start after being recalled from Triple-A. The right-hander lasted just two innings in his major-league debut against Toronto on Aug. 5, allowing six runs.
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