GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: CLEVELAND (62-49) at MINNESOTA (57-53)

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JHONNY PERALTA SCORED VICTOR MARTINEZ.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J PERALTA ON FIRST, C BLAKE ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 4
MINNESOTA 0 TOP, 8TH

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: F GUTIERREZ (.298, 1-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 4 9 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 (BOT 8)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
MIN - PAT NESHEK

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J KUBEL (.251, 1-FOR-2)
B BUSCHER (.238, 0-FOR-2)
N PUNTO (.207, 0-FOR-2)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (4) VS MINNESOTA (0) - MID 8TH - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .281
K Lofton lf 4 1 2 0 0 1 0 .300
V Martinez 1b 2 2 0 0 2 1 0 .302
T Hafner dh 4 1 1 1 0 1 2 .253
C Blake 3b 4 0 1 2 0 1 1 .267
J Peralta ss 4 0 3 1 0 0 1 .280
F Gutierrez rf 4 0 1 0 0 2 3 .296
K Shoppach c 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .275
J Barfield 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .246

Totals 32 4 9 4 2 7 11

BATTING: HR - T Hafner (18, 7th inning off C Silva 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - C Blake
2 (56), T Hafner (70), J Peralta (56). 2-out RBI - C Blake, J Peralta. Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - J Barfield 1, F Gutierrez 1. GIDP - T Hafner.
Team LOB - 6.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274
A Casilla 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
J Mauer c 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 .301
M Cuddyer rf 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .287
J Morneau 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286
T Hunter cf 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .288
J Kubel dh 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .251
B Buscher 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .238
N Punto ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .207

Totals 23 0 2 0 1 1 7

BATTING: 2B - J Kubel (18, P Byrd). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J
Tyner 1. Team LOB - 3.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (B Buscher-J Morneau).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 000 100 12 -- 4
MINNESOTA - 000 000 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 7 2 0 0 1 1 0 4.20

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 7 6 2 2 1 6 1 4.51
D Reyes 0 2 2 2 1 0 0 4.44
P Neshek 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.01

D Reyes pitched to 3 batters in the 8th.

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 67-42; C Silva 97-69; D Reyes 14-5; P Neshek 16-11.
Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 8-12; C Silva 11-4; D Reyes 0-0; P Neshek 2-0.
Batters faced: P Byrd 24; C Silva 27; D Reyes 3; P Neshek 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Dan Iassogna. 1B--Dale Scott. 2B--Ron Kulpa. 3B--Paul Emmel.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 4 9 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 (TOP 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
MIN - PAT NESHEK

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: K SHOPPACH (.275, 0-FOR-3)
J BARFIELD (.246, 0-FOR-3)
G SIZEMORE (.281, 1-FOR-4)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (4) VS MINNESOTA (0) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .281
K Lofton lf 4 1 2 0 0 1 0 .300
V Martinez 1b 2 2 0 0 2 1 0 .302
T Hafner dh 4 1 1 1 0 1 2 .253
C Blake 3b 4 0 1 2 0 1 1 .267
J Peralta ss 4 0 3 1 0 0 1 .280
F Gutierrez rf 4 0 1 0 0 2 3 .296
K Shoppach c 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .275
J Barfield 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .246

Totals 32 4 9 4 2 7 11

BATTING: HR - T Hafner (18, 7th inning off C Silva 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - C Blake
2 (56), T Hafner (70), J Peralta (56). 2-out RBI - C Blake, J Peralta. Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - J Barfield 1, F Gutierrez 1. GIDP - T Hafner.
Team LOB - 6.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .272
A Casilla 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
J Mauer c 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 .301
M Cuddyer rf 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .287
J Morneau 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286
T Hunter cf 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .288
J Kubel dh 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .250
B Buscher 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .227
N Punto ss 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .209

Totals 27 0 3 0 1 1 8

BATTING: 2B - J Kubel (18, P Byrd). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J
Tyner 1. Team LOB - 4.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (B Buscher-J Morneau).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 000 100 12 -- 4
MINNESOTA - 000 000 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 8 3 0 0 1 1 0 4.16

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 7 6 2 2 1 6 1 4.51
D Reyes 0 2 2 2 1 0 0 4.44
P Neshek 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.01

D Reyes pitched to 3 batters in the 8th.

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 86-56; C Silva 97-69; D Reyes 14-5; P Neshek 16-11.
Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 10-13; C Silva 11-4; D Reyes 0-0; P Neshek 2-0.
Batters faced: P Byrd 28; C Silva 27; D Reyes 3; P Neshek 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Dan Iassogna. 1B--Dale Scott. 2B--Ron Kulpa. 3B--Paul Emmel.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - PITCHING CHANGE
MIN: JUAN RINCON (3-2, 6.21) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 4, MINNESOTA 0

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: K SHOPPACH (.275, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Rincon relieved P Neshek.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 4
MINNESOTA 0 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: K Shoppach (.275, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 4 9 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 (BOT 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
MIN - JUAN RINCON

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: A CASILLA (.242, 0-FOR-3)
J MAUER (.301, 0-FOR-2, BB)
M CUDDYER (.287, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (4) VS MINNESOTA (0) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 5 0 1 0 0 2 0 .280
K Lofton lf 4 1 2 0 0 1 0 .300
V Martinez 1b 2 2 0 0 2 1 0 .302
T Hafner dh 4 1 1 1 0 1 2 .253
C Blake 3b 4 0 1 2 0 1 1 .267
J Peralta ss 4 0 3 1 0 0 1 .280
F Gutierrez rf 4 0 1 0 0 2 3 .296
K Shoppach c 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .273
J Barfield 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .245

Totals 35 4 9 4 2 8 11

BATTING: HR - T Hafner (18, 7th inning off C Silva 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - C Blake
2 (56), T Hafner (70), J Peralta (56). 2-out RBI - C Blake, J Peralta. Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - J Barfield 1, F Gutierrez 1. GIDP - T Hafner.
Team LOB - 6.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .272
A Casilla 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
J Mauer c 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 .301
M Cuddyer rf 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .287
J Morneau 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286
T Hunter cf 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .288
J Kubel dh 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .250
B Buscher 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .227
N Punto ss 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .209

Totals 27 0 3 0 1 1 8

BATTING: 2B - J Kubel (18, P Byrd). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J
Tyner 1. Team LOB - 4.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (B Buscher-J Morneau).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 000 100 120 -- 4
MINNESOTA - 000 000 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 8 3 0 0 1 1 0 4.16

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 7 6 2 2 1 6 1 4.51
D Reyes 0 2 2 2 1 0 0 4.44
P Neshek 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.01
J Rincon 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 6.05

D Reyes pitched to 3 batters in the 8th.

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 86-56; C Silva 97-69; D Reyes 14-5; P Neshek 16-11; J
Rincon 15-11. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 10-13; C Silva 11-4; D Reyes 0-0;
P Neshek 2-0; J Rincon 0-2. Batters faced: P Byrd 28; C Silva 27; D Reyes 3; P
Neshek 4; J Rincon 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Dan Iassogna. 1B--Dale Scott. 2B--Ron Kulpa. 3B--Paul Emmel.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 4 9 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: CLE - PAUL BYRD AND KELLY SHOPPACH

MIN - CARLOS SILVA, DENNYS REYES (8TH), PAT NESHEK
(8TH), JUAN RINCON (9TH) AND JOE MAUER

HOME RUNS: CLE - TRAVIS HAFNER (18) OFF CARLOS SILVA IN THE 7TH, 0 ON

MIN - NONE</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 4 9 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: CLE - PAUL BYRD AND KELLY SHOPPACH

MIN - CARLOS SILVA, DENNYS REYES (8TH), PAT NESHEK
(8TH), JUAN RINCON (9TH) AND JOE MAUER


WP - PAUL BYRD (10-4)
LP - CARLOS SILVA (9-12)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: CLE - TRAVIS HAFNER (18) OFF CARLOS SILVA IN THE 7TH, 0 ON

MIN - NONE


TIME: 2:23 ATT: 28,314

PROBABLES: MIN - BOOF BONSER (5-7, 4.61)
KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER (7-6, 3.45)

PROBABLES: CLE - JAKE WESTBROOK (2-6, 5.40)
CHA - JOHN DANKS (6-8, 5.06)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (4) VS MINNESOTA (0) - FINAL

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 5 0 1 0 0 2 0 .280
K Lofton lf 4 1 2 0 0 1 0 .300
V Martinez 1b 2 2 0 0 2 1 0 .302
T Hafner dh 4 1 1 1 0 1 2 .253
C Blake 3b 4 0 1 2 0 1 1 .267
J Peralta ss 4 0 3 1 0 0 1 .280
F Gutierrez rf 4 0 1 0 0 2 3 .296
K Shoppach c 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .273
J Barfield 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .245

Totals 35 4 9 4 2 8 11

BATTING: HR - T Hafner (18, 7th inning off C Silva 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - C Blake
2 (56), T Hafner (70), J Peralta (56). 2-out RBI - C Blake, J Peralta. Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - J Barfield 1, F Gutierrez 1. GIDP - T Hafner.
Team LOB - 6.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (V Martinez-J Peralta-V Martinez).


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .272
A Casilla 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
J Mauer c 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 .303
M Cuddyer rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .286
J Morneau 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286
T Hunter cf 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .288
J Kubel dh 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .250
B Buscher 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .227
N Punto ss 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .209

Totals 30 0 4 0 1 1 9

BATTING: 2B - J Kubel (18, P Byrd). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J
Tyner 1. GIDP - M Cuddyer. Team LOB - 4.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (B Buscher-J Morneau).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 000 100 120 -- 4
MINNESOTA - 000 000 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd (W, 10-4) 9 4 0 0 1 1 0 4.13

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva (L, 9-12) 7 6 2 2 1 6 1 4.51
D Reyes 0 2 2 2 1 0 0 4.44
P Neshek 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.01
J Rincon 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 6.05

D Reyes pitched to 3 batters in the 8th.

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 99-65; C Silva 97-69; D Reyes 14-5; P Neshek 16-11; J
Rincon 15-11. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 13-13; C Silva 11-4; D Reyes 0-0;
P Neshek 2-0; J Rincon 0-2. Batters faced: P Byrd 31; C Silva 27; D Reyes 3; P
Neshek 4; J Rincon 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Dan Iassogna. 1B--Dale Scott. 2B--Ron Kulpa. 3B--Paul Emmel.

T--2:23. Att--28,314.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
CLEVELAND 4
MINNESOTA 0 FINAL</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLEVELAND (4) AT MINNESOTA (0) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CLEVELAND 4TH: K Lofton singled to center. V Martinez walked, K Lofton to
second. T Hafner grounded into double play, third to first, K Lofton out at
third, V Martinez to second. C Blake singled to center, V Martinez scored.
J Peralta flied out to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 1, MINNESOTA 0.

CLEVELAND 7TH: T Hafner homered to right. C Blake struck out swinging.
J Peralta singled to right. F Gutierrez singled to left, J Peralta to second.
K Shoppach flied out to left. J Barfield grounded out to third. (1 Run, 3 Hits,
0 Errors) CLEVELAND 2, MINNESOTA 0.

CLEVELAND 8TH: D Reyes relieved C Silva. G Sizemore singled to center.
K Lofton reached on bunt single to third, G Sizemore to second. V Martinez
walked, G Sizemore to third, K Lofton to second. P Neshek relieved D Reyes
inheriting a 2-0 count. T Hafner grounded into fielder's choice to second,
G Sizemore out at home, K Lofton to third, V Martinez to second. C Blake
grounded into fielder's choice to second, K Lofton scored, T Hafner out at
second, V Martinez to third. J Peralta singled to left, V Martinez scored,
C Blake to second. F Gutierrez struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
CLEVELAND 4, MINNESOTA 0.</div>

 

Byrd, Hafner lift Indians over Twins

<h3>CLEVELAND 4, MINNESOTA 0</h3>By Anthony Maggio
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - Travis Hafner homered and Paul Byrd threwa complete-game shutout as the Cleveland Indians topped theMinnesota Twins, 4-0, on Monday.


Byrd (10-4) allowed four hits and threw his first complete gamesince doing so at Minnesota on August 17, 2006. It was hisfirst shutout since July 1, 2005 at Kansas City.


Hafner shook off a 3-for-22 slump by hitting a solo homer tostart the seventh inning and the Indians added two more in theeighth as they escaped Minnesota with a split of the four-gameseries and remained a half-game ahead of Detroit for first placein the American League Central.


After giving up 20 hits and six earned runs combined in his lasttwo starts spanning 12 1/3 innings, Byrd was dominant in thisone. He improved to 3-0 in three starts against the Twins thisseason with a 3.13 ERA and won for the third time in his lastfour outings.


Byrd's only trouble came in the third inning, when Jason Kubelled off the frame with a double. Kubel advanced to third baseon a deep fly ball, but Byrd induced Nick Punto's chopper backto the mound and Jason Tyner's ground ball to first to end theinning.


Minnesota managed a one-out single in the fifth and a leadoffwalk in the seventh inning, but Torii Hunter was stranded in thefifth inning, and Byrd got the Twins' Nos. 3, 4 and 5 hitterseach to pop up to end the inning.


Byrd held a slumping Justin Morneau hitless in three at-batsdespite the slugger entering the game with a .481 battingaverage and three career home runs against him in 27 at-bats.Morneau is currently in an 0-for-17 skid.


Cleveland struggled to give its starter help early on, managingjust a single in its first 10 at-bats. But Kenny Lofton singledand Victor Martinez walked to lead off the fourth inningagainst Twins starter Carlos Silva to start a rally.

Silva (9-12) got Hafner to ground into a double play, but CaseyBlake singled to right in the next at-bat allowing Martinez toscore from second base.


Silva retired the next seven hitters he faced before Hafner, whoentered the game hitting .444 off Silva with no home runs, tookhim deep to right field.


Despite allowing just two earned runs for the second straightstart, Silva lost for the second time in his last three outings.He gave up six hits and struck out six while walking one.

The Indians added insurance in the eighth inning with twosingles and a walk off reliever Dennys Reyes.


Lofton's single had been a sacrifice bunt attempt, but Twinssecond baseman Alexi Casilla failed to cover first base in time.

Casilla recovered with a diving stop and throw home to get GradySizemore on Hafner's ground ball off Pat Neshek with the bases<div class="pre">loaded, but Blake hit an RBI fielder's choice and Jhonny</div>Peralta hit his third single of the game to plate Martinez.

Peralta recorded his first three-hit game since July 17, whileBlake drove in two runs and Martinez scored twice for Cleveland.

Minnesota's first five hitters went 1-for-18 with a walk, andKubel was the only Twin to get in scoring position.

The Twins were shut out for the 10th time this season. It wasthe second time Minnesota has been blanked by Cleveland and thesixth time it has failed to score in a game against an ALCentral foe.

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLEVELAND (4) AT MINNESOTA (0) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cleveland Starting Lineups -- G Sizemore CF, K Lofton LF, V Martinez 1B,
T Hafner DH, C Blake 3B, J Peralta SS, F Gutierrez RF, K Shoppach C,
J Barfield 2B, P Byrd RHP.

Minnesota Starting Lineups -- J Tyner LF, A Casilla 2B, J Mauer C, M Cuddyer RF,
J Morneau 1B, T Hunter CF, J Kubel DH, B Buscher 3B, N Punto SS, C Silva RHP.

Umpires -- Dan Iassogna (HP), Dale Scott (1B), Ron Kulpa (2B), Paul Emmel (3B).


Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


CLEVELAND 1ST: G Sizemore grounded out to first. K Lofton struck out
looking. V Martinez grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 1ST: J Tyner grounded out to second. A Casilla flied out to
left. J Mauer grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0,
MINNESOTA 0.

CLEVELAND 2ND: T Hafner struck out swinging. C Blake flied out to center.
J Peralta singled to right. F Gutierrez struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 2ND: M Cuddyer popped out to first. J Morneau flied out to
center. T Hunter struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0,
MINNESOTA 0.

CLEVELAND 3RD: K Shoppach grounded out to third. J Barfield grounded out
to shortstop. G Sizemore struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 3RD: J Kubel doubled to deep left. B Buscher flied out to
center, J Kubel to third. N Punto grounded out to second. J Tyner grounded
out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 0.

CLEVELAND 4TH: K Lofton singled to center. V Martinez walked, K Lofton to
second. T Hafner grounded into double play, third to first, K Lofton out at
third, V Martinez to second. C Blake singled to center, V Martinez scored.
J Peralta flied out to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 1,
MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 4TH: A Casilla flied out to center. J Mauer grounded out to
second. M Cuddyer flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 1,
MINNESOTA 0.

CLEVELAND 5TH: F Gutierrez grounded out to shortstop. K Shoppach grounded
out to first. J Barfield grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CLEVELAND 1, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 5TH: J Morneau grounded out to second. T Hunter singled to left.
J Kubel lined out to right. B Buscher grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) CLEVELAND 1, MINNESOTA 0.

CLEVELAND 6TH: G Sizemore grounded out to first. K Lofton flied out to
right. V Martinez struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 1,
MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 6TH: N Punto grounded out to pitcher. J Tyner flied out to
right. A Casilla flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 1,
MINNESOTA 0.

CLEVELAND 7TH: T Hafner homered to right. C Blake struck out swinging.
J Peralta singled to right. F Gutierrez singled to left, J Peralta to second.
K Shoppach flied out to left. J Barfield grounded out to third. (1 Run, 3 Hits,
0 Errors) CLEVELAND 2, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 7TH: J Mauer walked. M Cuddyer popped out to shortstop.
J Morneau popped out to shortstop. T Hunter popped out to second. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 2, MINNESOTA 0.

CLEVELAND 8TH: D Reyes relieved C Silva. G Sizemore singled to center.
K Lofton reached on bunt single to third, G Sizemore to second. V Martinez
walked, G Sizemore to third, K Lofton to second. P Neshek relieved D Reyes
inheriting a 2-0 count. T Hafner grounded into fielder's choice to second,
G Sizemore out at home, K Lofton to third, V Martinez to second. C Blake
grounded into fielder's choice to second, K Lofton scored, T Hafner out at
second, V Martinez to third. J Peralta singled to left, V Martinez scored,
C Blake to second. F Gutierrez struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
CLEVELAND 4, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 8TH: J Kubel flied out to right. B Buscher grounded out to
second. N Punto singled to center. J Tyner grounded out to second. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 4, MINNESOTA 0.

CLEVELAND 9TH: J Rincon relieved P Neshek. K Shoppach lined out to right.
J Barfield flied out to right. G Sizemore struck out swinging. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 4, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 9TH: A Casilla grounded out to first. J Mauer singled to center.
M Cuddyer grounded into double play, first to shortstop to first, J Mauer out
at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 4, MINNESOTA 0.</div>

 

Byrd, Hafner lift Indians over Twins

<h3>CLEVELAND 4, MINNESOTA 0</h3>By Anthony Maggio
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - Travis Hafner homered and Paul Byrd threwa complete-game shutout as the Cleveland Indians topped theMinnesota Twins, 4-0, on Monday.


Byrd (10-4) allowed four hits and threw his first complete gamesince doing so at Minnesota on August 17, 2006. It was hisfirst shutout since July 1, 2005 at Kansas City.


Hafner shook off a 3-for-22 slump by hitting a solo homer tostart the seventh inning and the Indians added two more in theeighth as they escaped Minnesota with a split of the four-gameseries and remained a half-game ahead of Detroit for first placein the American League Central.


"Hafner's home run was big for us, to take us from one to tworuns," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "He's a great hitterand he knows what he's capable of doing. I really feel likehe's going to lead us down the stretch here."


But it was Byrd who took the lead on Monday. After giving up 20hits and six earned runs combined in his last two startsspanning 12 1/3 innings, Byrd was dominant in this one. Heimproved to 3-0 in three starts against the Twins this seasonwith a 3.13 ERA and won for the third time in his last fouroutings.


Byrd said he started hitters with his changeup and curveballearly in the game, a departure from his usual fastball-firstapproach. He was throwing all of his pitches for strikes,forcing the Twins to be aggressive at the plate. The result wasa complete game in just 99 pitches.


"That's probably right up there with some other games I'vepitched in my career," Byrd said. "We're in the thick ofthings. The hitters have been picking me up all year long andplaying good defense behind me. It was really nice that I couldgive them the day off."


Byrd's only trouble came in the third inning, when Jason Kubelled off the frame with a double. Kubel advanced to third baseon a deep fly ball, but Byrd induced Nick Punto's chopper backto the mound and Jason Tyner's ground ball to first to end theinning.


Minnesota managed a one-out single in the fifth and a leadoffwalk in the seventh inning, but Torii Hunter was stranded in thefifth inning, and Byrd got the Twins' Nos. 3, 4 and 5 hitterseach to pop up to end the inning.


"I usually run into a wall in the seventh, so when I walked(Joe) Mauer to lead off the seventh I wondered if this is it,here we go again," Byrd said. "I was able to get three flyballs so I knew it was my day then."


Byrd held a slumping Justin Morneau hitless in three at-batsdespite the slugger entering the game with a .481 battingaverage and three career home runs against him in 27 at-bats.Morneau is currently in an 0-for-17 skid.


"When I got Morneau out for the second time in a row, I didn'tremember ever doing that so I walked over to Casey and Victorand said, 'Hey, if you're not right with Jesus, get right withhim, because he may be coming back. I just got Morneau outtwice.'


"I'm used to seeing him stop at second base, not cut back acrossthe infield."


Cleveland struggled to give its starter help early on, managingjust a single in its first 10 at-bats. But Kenny Lofton singledand Victor Martinez walked to lead off the fourth inningagainst Twins starter Carlos Silva to start a rally.

Silva (9-12) got Hafner to ground into a double play, but CaseyBlake singled to right in the next at-bat allowing Martinez toscore from second base.


Silva retired the next seven hitters he faced before Hafner, whoentered the game hitting .444 off Silva with no home runs, tookhim deep to right field.


Despite allowing just two earned runs for the second straightstart, Silva lost for the second time in his last three outings.He gave up six hits and struck out six while walking one.

"Silva threw the ball very good for us, gave us the opportunityto win," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "When you get(four) hits and don't score any runs, you don't have a chance."

The Indians added insurance in the eighth inning with twosingles and a walk off reliever Dennys Reyes.


Lofton's single had been a sacrifice bunt attempt, but Twinssecond baseman Alexi Casilla failed to cover first base in time.

Casilla recovered with a diving stop and throw home to get GradySizemore on Hafner's ground ball off Pat Neshek with the bases<div class="pre">loaded, but Blake hit an RBI fielder's choice and Jhonny</div>Peralta hit his third single of the game to plate Martinez.

Peralta recorded his first three-hit game since July 17, whileBlake drove in two runs and Martinez scored twice for Cleveland.

Minnesota's first five hitters went 1-for-18 with a walk, andKubel was the only Twin to get in scoring position.

"I don't think we're struggling, I think we're just runningacross good pitching," Hunter said. "(Fausto) Carmona and thenlook what Byrd did today. He's not a bad pitcher. He's smart."

The Twins were shut out for the 10th time this season. It wasthe second time Minnesota has been blanked by Cleveland and thesixth time it has failed to score in a game against an ALCentral foe.