Carrasco Pitches Indians Past Twins, 1-0
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Carlos Carrasco took a shutout into the ninth inning and the Cleveland Indians pushed across an unearned run to defeat the Minnesota Twins 1-0 Tuesday night.
Carrasco (5-3) gave up three hits, struck out six and walked one over 8 1-3 innings as Cleveland avoided its first eight-game losing streak ever at Progressive Field. The Indians opened the year 14-2 at home. They have not lost eight in a row at home since June 8-21 at old Cleveland Stadium.
Chris Perez replaced Carrasco after Ben Revere slapped a one-out single through the hole at shortstop in the ninth. Revere took second on a weak groundout by Alexi Casilla before Perez got Michael Cuddyer on a called third strike for his 15th save in 16 chances.
Minnesota had a five-game winning streak snapped despite Francisco Liriano (3-6) coming off the disabled list and matching Carrasco for five innings. The left-hander showed no effects of an inflamed throwing shoulder that had sidelined him since May 22. He gave up three hits and three walks, striking out seven.
Carlos Santana doubled to start the Indians' fourth, reaching third when the ball got past left fielder Delmon Young for an error. Santana scored on a groundout to short by Shelley Duncan.
Santana ran well after being spiked on the last out of the top of the inning. The Twins' Michael Cuddyer stepped on his foot on the first-base bag trying to beat out a ground ball.
Carrasco used a lively fastball and sharp breaking ball to get 14 outs on grounders. He retired the first 13 Twins he faced until Young doubled over the head of center fielder Grady Sizemore with one out in the fifth. Young took third when Luke Hughes followed with an infield hit up the middle. Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera snagged it with a dive, but Hughes beat the throw to first.
Carrasco then got Brian Dinkelman to foul out and fanned Rene Rivera -- who lost control of the bat waving at strike three. The bat went sailing about 110 feet and landed past third base.
In the seventh, the Twins' Justin Morneau drew a one-out walk. Young followed with a bouncing ball up the middle that shortstop Cabrera got to and shoveled to second baseman Orlando Cabrera with his glove to start a rally-killing double play.
Carrasco has won four of five starts since May 17. He went on the DL with an inflamed right shoulder on April 28, four days after lasting only three innings in a start in Minnesota.
Notes: Cleveland's 20-11 home record is best in the AL. ... Cleveland broke an eight-game losing streak to the Twins. Indians DH Travis Hafner, out since May 20 with a strained right oblique, should start taking batting practice in "three or four days," according to manager Manny Acta. ... Morneau played first base after being the DH Monday. He didn't play Saturday and Sunday because of a sore left wrist. ... Twins OF Denard Span returned to Minnesota to have his sore neck examined by team doctors. He was hurt sliding into home plate Friday against Kansas City and didn't play Saturday and Sunday. Manager Ron Gardenhire said Span is experiencing the same lightheaded symptoms he had from an inner ear infection in 2009.
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