Duncan Leads Cleveland Rally, Indians Beat Twins
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Shelley Duncan homered to start a six-run seventh and added a two-run double in the inning as the Cleveland Indians rallied for a 6-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, completing a three-game sweep.
Trailing 3-0, the Indians scored five unearned runs in the seventh with help from an error on first baseman Chris Parmalee. Duncan led off with a homer and also doubled in a pair of runs later in the inning that saw Cleveland send 11 batters to the plate.
Minnesota's Jason Repko left the game after being hit in the head by a pitch from Justin Masterson in the bottom of the sixth. Repko walked off of field with assistance and was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center for evaluation.
Luke Hughes scored three runs for the Twins, who lost their eighth straight and 24th in 29 games. Minnesota's Brian Dinkelman had his first career four-hit game.
Masterson (12-10) pitched six innings, giving up three runs -- one earned -- on seven hits to secure the victory. Chris Perez pitched a scoreless ninth for his 34th save in 38 chances.
The win allowed the Indians to secure their first three-game sweep since mid-June.
Behind Carl Pavano, Minnesota was in control through six innings. That changed in the seventh.
After Duncan homered to lead off the inning, Cleveland's Lonnie Chisenhall reached on what would be a costly error on Minnesota's Chris Parmalee. After fielding the grounder, Parmalee's throw to Pavano covering first was wide and Chisenhall was safe.
The Twins quickly got the next two outs, but Cleveland took advantage of the extra out and loaded the bases. Minnesota relievers Jose Mijares and Alex Burnett each walked in a run, allowing Cleveland to tie the game at 3.
Cleveland's Jim Thome -- who spent all of 2010 and much of 2011 with the Twins -- gave Cleveland a 4-3 lead with a broken bat single that didn't leave the infield.
Batting for the second time in the inning, Duncan hit a line drive that hit the left-field wall to drive in two runs and give Cleveland a 6-3 lead.
Pavano (8-13) was charged with the loss in a game in which he was sharp for six-plus innings. While Pavano gave up four runs, only one was earned.
The Twins, who started a lineup that featured only one opening-day starter, scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to cut Cleveland's lead to 6-5. After hitting Matt Tolbert with a pitch to load the bases, Cleveland reliever Vinnie Pestano walked in two runs.
Hughes scored his third run of the game in the sixth to give Minnesota a 3-0 lead on Brian Dinkelman's single.
In the second, Hughes scored on Joe Benson's groundout. In the bottom of the fourth, he scored again, this time when Lou Marson threw ball into center field in an attempt to throw out Benson, who was stealing.
NOTES: Both teams have one-game makeups on Monday. David Huff (2-5) will pitch for Cleveland against Seattle in a makeup of a May 14 rainout. The Indians will then host the Chicago White Sox for four games in three days. Minnesota was scheduled to fly to New York on Sunday night for a one-game makeup against the Yankees before returning home to face the Mariners. Scott Diamond (1-4) will start for the Twins against the Yankees. ... Because of the quick, one-game trip to New York, the Twins are leaving the rest of the starting rotation and several injured players in Minnesota. ... The victory allowed Cleveland to even its record at 75-75 with 12 games remaining in the season. The Indians haven't finished above .500 since 2007.
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