Encarnacion, Ramirez Lead Indians Past Twins, 6-2
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jose Ramirez and Edwin Encarnacion combined to drive in five runs and Trevor Bauer earned his 10th win as the Cleveland Indians beat the Minnesota Twins 6-2 on Tuesday.
One day after hitting a pair of homers against the Twins, Ramirez's bat stayed hot at Target Field. He drove in a run with a double in the third inning and added an RBI single in the fifth as part of a three-hit night.
Bauer went 6 1/3 innings for Cleveland and gave up two runs on four hits. It was the first time all season Bauer issued more walks (4) than strikeouts (3).
The three-strikeout performance snapped a streak of 12 consecutive starts with at least seven strikeouts for Bauer.
The Twins started Ehire Adrianza at second base after trading Brian Dozier earlier in the day to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Dozier had spent seven seasons in Minnesota. Adrianza was hitless in two at-bats before being pinch hit for in the ninth.
Gibson gave up three runs on five hits in six innings to earn his second loss in his last three starts.
Miguel Sano doubled in the second inning and eventually scored the game's first run on a sacrifice fly by Jake Cave. The Twins didn't get another hit until Logan Morrison's solo homer off Bauer in the sixth cut Cleveland's lead to 3-2.
Encarnacion's two-out bloop to right scored a pair in the seventh to give the Indians a 5-2 cushion. He added an RBI on a fielder's choice in the ninth inning. Encarnacion now has 76 RBI on the year, two behind Ramirez for the team lead.
MAY RETURNS TO THE TWINS
Minnesota right-hander Trevor May is back in the major leagues for the first time since 2016. He missed all of 2017 following Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and pitched for Triple-A Rochester this year before officially being recalled Tuesday by the Twins.
May was both a starter and a reliever for Minnesota in 2014 and 2015 but pitched exclusively out of the bullpen in 2016. He made four starts and nine relief appearances this season for Rochester before getting recalled.
"I think we all know that I have that versatility, and we talk about that quite a bit," May said Tuesday. "At the moment, I like just getting the ball and letting it rip. I think that I have the mentality to take the ball at the end of the game and close the door."
May made his season debut in the ninth inning, allowing one run on two hits.
TRAINERS ROOM
Indians: RHP Josh Tomlin (right hamstring) threw two 15-pitch innings in a simulated game Tuesday and will pitch Friday for Triple-A Columbus in a rehab start, manager Terry Francona said Tuesday. Tomlin will throw two innings in his rehab outing.
Twins: CF Byron Buxton, currently playing for Triple-A Rochester, reaggravated his injured wrist Monday and will be evaluated further. Twins manager Paul Molitor said it's likely Buxton will land on the minor league disabled list.
UP NEXT
Indians: RHP Carlos Carrasco starts the series finale for Cleveland, having won four of his last five starts.
Twins: LHP Adalberto Mejia is making just his third start of the year for the Twins, all of which have been since June 30.
(© Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
