Duncan Leads Indians' Sweep Of Twins, 8-2, 7-6
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Shelley Duncan drove in three runs in each half of a day-night doubleheader, and the Cleveland Indians erased a six-run deficit to beat the Minnesota Twins 7-6 on Saturday night for the sweep.
The Indians also won the opener 8-2 behind Duncan, who hit a two-run single with two out in the first and a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in Cleveland's six-run sixth inning.
Duncan's two-run single off Matt Capps put Cleveland ahead 7-6 in the seventh inning of the nightcap as the Indians won for the eighth time in 11 games.
The Twins (60-98) have lost 19 of 21 to reach the second-most losses since the team moved to Minnesota in 1961, ahead of only a 60-102 record in 1982. They have lost eight straight to the Indians.
Two Cleveland rookies earned their first career win. Left-hander Nick Hagadone (1-0) pitched an inning to get the victory in the second game. Right-hander Zach Putnam (1-0) struck out three over 1 1-3 innings in the opener.
Francisco Liriano (9-10) gave up five runs and got only one out in Cleveland's six-run sixth in the opener. Jose Mijares (0-2) got the loss in the nightcap.
Chris Perez pitched the ninth inning of the second game for his 36th save in 40 chances.
Drew Butera drove in three runs from the No. 9 spot in Minnesota's order, helping the Twins build a 6-0 lead Saturday night against Mitch Talbot, who was recalled from Triple-A Columbus for the start.
Scott Diamond took a three-hit shutout into the sixth, but allowed four more hits and four runs. Alex Burnett yielded two hits and one run before Mijares got out of the inning with a 6-5 lead.
Duncan leads the Indians with six homers and 20 RBIs in September.
"Getting more playing time has helped," Duncan said. "Now, if I don't get a hit I can say, 'Well, there's always tomorrow.' Before, it was there's always maybe next week. I've always believed I can play well up here. I'm 31 going on 32, but I want to play as long as I can."
The Indians lost another player when center fielder Trevor Crowe strained his left shoulder trying to make a diving catch on Ben Revere's double in the first inning of the opener. Manager Manny Acta said Crowe, who missed five months recovering from right shoulder surgery in March, was taken for tests and will not play in Cleveland's final five games.
All-Star shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera left the second game in the sixth inning with what the team announced as a bruised right elbow. He was hit by a pitch Friday night.
"With so many guys out, Shelley has picked us up," Acta said.
Minnesota's Danny Valencia and Denard Span were back in the lineup after missing one game. They were involved in a minor car accident on the way to the airport on Thursday, when Span drove into the back of Valencia's car.
NOTES: Indians INF Cord Phelps broke an 0-for-27 streak with a single in the second game. ... Indians DH Jim Thome drew his 1,723rd walk, 10 behind Mickey Mantle for seventh on the career list. ... The Indians honored broadcaster Mike Hegan for his 50 years in pro baseball. Hegan played 12 years in the majors and is in his 34th season at the microphone, the last 23 with Cleveland. ... Twins rookie 1B Chris Parmelee was 0 for 4 with four strikeouts in the opener. ... Minnesota placed C Joe Mauer (pneumonia), 1B Justin Morneau (concussion symptoms) and IN Tsuyowshi Nishioka (strained oblique) on the disabled list. All the moves were retroactive to mid-September. ... Cleveland closes its home season Sunday with RHP Fausto Carmona (7-15) opposing Twins RHP Liam Hendricks (0-2).
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