AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - PITCHING CHANGE CLE: RAFAEL PEREZ (0-0, 2.06) STARTING THE 8TH CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 1 DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.289, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: R Perez relieved F Carmona. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 0 MINNESOTA 1 BOTTOM, 8TH DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J Morneau (.289, 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 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 MINNESOTA 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 (TOP 9) CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - RAFAEL PEREZ MIN - SCOTT BAKER DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.281, 0-FOR-2, HBP) K LOFTON (.299, 0-FOR-1, 2 BB) C BLAKE (.266, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">CLEVELAND (0) VS MINNESOTA (1) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .281 K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 .299 C Blake 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .266 V Martinez c 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .305 T Hafner dh 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .253 R Garko 1b 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 .312 T Nixon rf 3 0 1 0 0 0 3 .258 J Michaels pr-rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 J Peralta ss 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 .275 J Barfield 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .248 Totals 24 0 4 0 2 4 12 BATTING: 2B - R Garko (20, S Baker). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Peralta 1, J Barfield 1. GIDP - C Blake. Team LOB - 3. BASERUNNING: CS - K Lofton (5, 2nd base by S Baker/J Mauer), G Sizemore (7, 2nd base by S Baker/J Mauer). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Tyner lf 3 0 1 0 1 0 2 .278 J Bartlett ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .260 J Mauer c 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 .303 M Cuddyer rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 5 .289 J Morneau 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .289 T Hunter cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .288 J Kubel dh 2 1 2 0 2 0 0 .249 B Buscher 3b 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 .263 N Punto 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .208 A Casilla 2b 3 0 1 1 0 1 0 .254 Totals 29 1 5 1 6 5 11 BATTING: 2B - A Casilla (2, F Carmona). RBI - A Casilla (5). 2-out RBI - A Casilla. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Cuddyer 2, J Tyner 2. Team LOB - 10. BASERUNNING: SB - J Tyner (7, 2nd base off F Carmona/V Martinez). FIELDING: DP: 2 (B Buscher-A Casilla-J Morneau, S Baker-J Morneau). ---------------------------------------------------- CLEVELAND - 000 000 00 -- 0 MINNESOTA - 000 100 00 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era F Carmona 7 5 1 1 5 5 0 3.17 R Perez 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2.00 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era S Baker 8 4 0 0 2 4 0 4.43 IBB - J Mauer (by F Carmona). HBP - G Sizemore (by S Baker). Pitches-strikes: F Carmona 114-69; R Perez 18-10; S Baker 93-66. Ground balls-fly balls: F Carmona 12-4; R Perez 2-1; S Baker 4-13. Batters faced: F Carmona 31; R Perez 4; S Baker 27. UMPIRES: HP--Paul Emmel. 1B--Dan Iassogna. 2B--Dale Scott. 3B--Ron Kulpa. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - PITCHING CHANGE MIN: JOE NATHAN (3-2, 1.98) STARTING THE 9TH CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 1 DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.281, 0-FOR-2)</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: J Nathan relieved S Baker. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 0 MINNESOTA 1 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G Sizemore (.281, 0-FOR-2)</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 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 MINNESOTA 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 x 1 5 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: CLE - FAUSTO CARMONA, RAFAEL PEREZ (8TH) AND VICTOR MARTINEZ MIN - SCOTT BAKER, JOE NATHAN (9TH) AND JOE MAUER HOME RUNS: CLE - NONE 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 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 MINNESOTA 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 x 1 5 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: CLE - FAUSTO CARMONA, RAFAEL PEREZ (8TH) AND VICTOR MARTINEZ MIN - SCOTT BAKER, JOE NATHAN (9TH) AND JOE MAUER WP - SCOTT BAKER (6-4) LP - FAUSTO CARMONA (13-6) SAVE - JOE NATHAN (26) HOME RUNS: CLE - NONE MIN - NONE TIME: 2:34 ATT: 38,334 PROBABLES: CLE - PAUL BYRD (9-4, 4.43) MIN - CARLOS SILVA (9-11, 4.61)</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">CLEVELAND (0) VS MINNESOTA (1) - FINAL CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .281 K Lofton lf 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 .298 C Blake 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .267 V Martinez c 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .304 T Hafner dh 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .253 R Garko 1b 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 .312 T Nixon rf 3 0 1 0 0 0 3 .258 J Michaels pr-rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 J Peralta ss 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 .275 J Barfield 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .248 Totals 28 0 5 0 2 4 13 BATTING: 2B - R Garko (20, S Baker). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Peralta 1, J Barfield 1. GIDP - C Blake. Team LOB - 4. BASERUNNING: CS - K Lofton (5, 2nd base by S Baker/J Mauer), G Sizemore (7, 2nd base by S Baker/J Mauer). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Tyner lf 3 0 1 0 1 0 2 .278 J Bartlett ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .260 J Mauer c 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 .303 M Cuddyer rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 5 .289 J Morneau 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .289 T Hunter cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .288 J Kubel dh 2 1 2 0 2 0 0 .249 B Buscher 3b 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 .263 N Punto 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .208 A Casilla 2b 3 0 1 1 0 1 0 .254 Totals 29 1 5 1 6 5 11 BATTING: 2B - A Casilla (2, F Carmona). RBI - A Casilla (5). 2-out RBI - A Casilla. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Cuddyer 2, J Tyner 2. Team LOB - 10. BASERUNNING: SB - J Tyner (7, 2nd base off F Carmona/V Martinez). FIELDING: DP: 2 (B Buscher-A Casilla-J Morneau, S Baker-J Morneau). ---------------------------------------------------- CLEVELAND - 000 000 000 -- 0 MINNESOTA - 000 100 00x -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era F Carmona (L, 13-6) 7 5 1 1 5 5 0 3.17 R Perez 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2.00 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era S Baker (W, 6-4) 8 4 0 0 2 4 0 4.43 J Nathan (S, 26) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.94 IBB - J Mauer (by F Carmona). HBP - G Sizemore (by S Baker). Pitches-strikes: F Carmona 114-69; R Perez 18-10; S Baker 93-66; J Nathan 10-7. Ground balls-fly balls: F Carmona 12-4; R Perez 2-1; S Baker 4-13; J Nathan 2-1. Batters faced: F Carmona 31; R Perez 4; S Baker 27; J Nathan 4. UMPIRES: HP--Paul Emmel. 1B--Dan Iassogna. 2B--Dale Scott. 3B--Ron Kulpa. T--2:34. Att--38,334. Weather: INDOORS</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CLEVELAND (0) AT MINNESOTA (1) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MINNESOTA 4TH: J Morneau grounded out to first. T Hunter grounded out to shortstop. J Kubel singled to left. B Buscher walked, J Kubel to second. A Casilla hit a ground rule double to deep left, J Kubel scored, B Buscher to third. J Tyner grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 1.</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CLEVELAND (0) AT MINNESOTA (1) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cleveland Starting Lineups -- G Sizemore CF, K Lofton LF, C Blake 3B, V Martinez C, T Hafner DH, R Garko 1B, T Nixon RF, J Peralta SS, J Barfield 2B, F Carmona RHP. Minnesota Starting Lineups -- J Tyner LF, J Bartlett SS, J Mauer C, M Cuddyer RF, J Morneau 1B, T Hunter CF, J Kubel DH, B Buscher 3B, A Casilla 2B, S Baker RHP. Umpires -- Paul Emmel (HP), Dan Iassogna (1B), Dale Scott (2B), Ron Kulpa (3B). Gametime Weather: INDOORS. CLEVELAND 1ST: G Sizemore hit by pitch. G Sizemore caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. K Lofton walked. C Blake grounded into double play, third to second to first, K Lofton out at second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 0. MINNESOTA 1ST: J Tyner grounded out to shortstop. J Bartlett grounded out to third. J Mauer singled to center. M Cuddyer popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 0. CLEVELAND 2ND: V Martinez singled to right. T Hafner singled to center, V Martinez to second. R Garko struck out swinging. T Nixon fouled out to left. J Peralta flied out to left. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 0. MINNESOTA 2ND: J Morneau struck out swinging. T Hunter struck out swinging. J Kubel singled to center. B Buscher popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 0. CLEVELAND 3RD: J Barfield fouled out to third. G Sizemore flied out to center. K Lofton flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 0. MINNESOTA 3RD: A Casilla struck out swinging. J Tyner singled to center. J Bartlett popped out to second. J Tyner stole second. J Mauer walked. M Cuddyer grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 0. CLEVELAND 4TH: C Blake fouled out to first. V Martinez popped out to shortstop. T Hafner popped out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 0. MINNESOTA 4TH: J Morneau grounded out to first. T Hunter grounded out to shortstop. J Kubel singled to left. B Buscher walked, J Kubel to second. A Casilla hit a ground rule double to deep left, J Kubel scored, B Buscher to third. J Tyner grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 1. CLEVELAND 5TH: R Garko hit a ground rule double to deep center. T Nixon grounded out to pitcher. J Peralta struck out swinging. J Barfield popped out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 1. MINNESOTA 5TH: J Bartlett grounded out to shortstop. J Mauer grounded out to pitcher. M Cuddyer struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 1. CLEVELAND 6TH: G Sizemore struck out swinging. K Lofton walked. C Blake flied out to center. K Lofton caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 1. MINNESOTA 6TH: J Morneau grounded out to first. T Hunter struck out swinging. J Kubel walked. B Buscher flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 1. CLEVELAND 7TH: V Martinez struck out swinging. T Hafner popped out to shortstop. R Garko grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 1. MINNESOTA 7TH: A Casilla grounded out to first. J Tyner walked. J Bartlett grounded out to shortstop, J Tyner to second. J Mauer intentionally walked. M Cuddyer grounded into fielder's choice to third, J Tyner out at third, J Mauer to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 1. CLEVELAND 8TH: N Punto at third base. T Nixon singled to left. J Michaels ran for T Nixon. J Peralta bunt popped into double play, pitcher to first, J Michaels out at first. J Barfield fouled out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 1. MINNESOTA 8TH: J Michaels in right field. R Perez relieved F Carmona. J Morneau popped out to second. T Hunter grounded out to first. J Kubel walked. N Punto grounded into fielder's choice to second, J Kubel out at second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 1. CLEVELAND 9TH: J Nathan relieved S Baker. G Sizemore grounded out to second. K Lofton flied out to left. C Blake singled to right. V Martinez grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 1.</div>
Baker's gem lifts surging Twins past Indians <h3>MINNESOTA 1, CLEVELAND 0</h3>By Anthony Maggio PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - Scott Baker allowed just four hits ineight shutout innings and the Minnesota Twins topped theCleveland Indians, 1-0, on Sunday. Baker (6-4) outdueled Indians starter Fausto Carmona to win hissecond consecutive start and for the fourth time in his lastfive decisions while lasting at least seven innings in his thirdstraight outing. Joe Nathan worked around a two-out single in the ninth for his26th save in 28 chances as the Twins pulled within 4 1/2 gamesof first-place Cleveland in the American League Central Divisionrace. The victory gave Minnesota a 2-1 edge in the four-game series.With Detroit's loss on Sunday, Minnesota is now four games backof the wild card lead. Baker was solid throughout the contest and escaped his only twojams with ease. Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner hit back-to-back singles tolead off the second inning, but neither made it past secondbase. Baker struck out Ryan Garko on four pitches, induced a fly ballout in foul territory from Trot Nixon and forced a lazy fly ballto left field off the bat of Jhonny Peralta to end the inning. Garko's strikeout started a stretch of nine straight outs forBaker before Garko led off the fifth inning with a ground-ruledouble past a diving Torii Hunter in center field. But theTwins' starter shook it off and went right back to work. Nixon followed with a chopper to the mound and Peralta struckout before Josh Barfield popped out to strand Garko at secondbase. Although he took his second straight loss, Carmona (13-6) wasnearly as effective. Carmona allowed one run on five hits with five walks - oneintentional - and stranded nine Twins baserunners in theprocess. Prior to losing his last two contests, Carmona had been on afive-start winning streak. Even with the consecutive losses,Carmona has a 1.68 ERA in his last seven starts. Minnesota managed its only run off Carmona in the fourth inning. After leaving four baserunners on in the first three innings,the Twins put together a two-out rally in the fourth frame. After Carmona induced two groundouts to start the inning, JasonKubel singled and Brian Buscher walked. Rookie second basemanAlexi Casilla then lifted a fly ball over the head of leftfielder Kenny Lofton, who was playing in. Kubel scored and Buscher might have been able to come home aswell, but the ball bounced over the wall for a ground-ruledouble. Buscher and Casilla eventually were stranded in scoringposition. Baker took over from there and punctuated his performance with astellar double-play in the eighth inning. Nixon led off the inning with a pop-up that fell safely betweenJason Tyner and Jason Bartlett in left field. Peralta attemptedto bunt pinch runner Jason Michaels to second, but his buntattempt remained airborne long enough for Baker to move to hisleft and make a diving catch. Michaels was running on the play, and Baker easily doubled himoff first base. Kubel singled twice and walked twice for Minnesota, while JustinMorneau went 0-for-4 to remain hitless in his last 14 at-bats. No Indians hitter made it past second base, and Grady Sizemorewent 0-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch to end his season-high 12-gamehitting streak. Cleveland has now lost six of its last eight games.
Baker's gem lifts surging Twins past Indians <h3>MINNESOTA 1, CLEVELAND 0</h3>By Anthony Maggio PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - Scott Baker allowed just four hits ineight shutout innings and the Minnesota Twins topped theCleveland Indians, 1-0, on Sunday. Baker (6-4) outdueled Indians starter Fausto Carmona to win hissecond consecutive start and for the fourth time in his lastfive decisions while lasting at least seven innings in his thirdstraight outing. Joe Nathan worked around a two-out single in the ninth for his26th save in 28 chances as the Twins pulled within 4 1/2 gamesof first-place Cleveland in the American League Central Divisionrace. The victory gave Minnesota a 2-1 edge in the four-game series.With Detroit's loss on Sunday, Minnesota is now four games backof the wild card lead. "We smell blood right now," Twins center fielder Torii Huntersaid. "We're ready to go." Baker was solid throughout the contest and escaped his only twojams with ease. Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner hit back-to-back singles tolead off the second inning, but neither made it past secondbase. Baker struck out Ryan Garko on four pitches, induced a fly ballout in foul territory from Trot Nixon and forced a lazy fly ballto left field off the bat of Jhonny Peralta to end the inning. "I was just mixing it up, keeping them off-balance, changingspeed, changing locations," Baker said. "These guys are prettyaggressive. Anytime you can do that, it's pretty effective." Garko's strikeout started a stretch of nine straight outs forBaker before Garko led off the fifth inning with a ground-ruledouble past a diving Torii Hunter in center field. But theTwins' starter shook it off and went right back to work. Nixon followed with a chopper to the mound and Peralta struckout before Josh Barfield popped out to strand Garko at secondbase. "You can see when he knows he needs to make a big pitch he canreach back and get a little extra," Twins manager Ron Gardenhiresaid. "You know, a little savvy out there on the mound alongwith understanding what he's trying to do there. He's notwalking around the mound in circles. He gets back up on themound, the game keeps a good pace." Although he took his second straight loss, Carmona (13-6) wasnearly as effective. Carmona allowed one run on five hits with five walks - oneintentional - and stranded nine Twins baserunners in theprocess. Prior to losing his last two contests, Carmona had been on afive-start winning streak. Even with the consecutive losses,Carmona has a 1.68 ERA in his last seven starts. Minnesota managed its only run off Carmona in the fourth inning. After leaving four baserunners on in the first three innings,the Twins put together a two-out rally in the fourth frame. After Carmona induced two groundouts to start the inning, JasonKubel singled and Brian Buscher walked. Rookie second basemanAlexi Casilla then lifted a fly ball over the head of leftfielder Kenny Lofton, who was playing in. "It didn't move much," Carmona said about his sinker to Casillathrough his interpreter, Indians first base coach Luis Rivera."It stayed up in the zone." Kubel scored and Buscher might have been able to come home aswell, but the ball bounced over the wall for a ground-ruledouble. Buscher and Casilla eventually were stranded in scoringposition. Baker took over from there and punctuated his performance with astellar double-play in the eighth inning. Nixon led off the inning with a pop-up that fell safely betweenJason Tyner and Jason Bartlett in left field. Peralta attemptedto bunt pinch runner Jason Michaels to second, but his buntattempt remained airborne long enough for Baker to move to hisleft and make a diving catch. Michaels was running on the play, and Baker easily doubled himoff first base. Michaels was running on the play, and Baker easily doubled himoff first base. Peralta laid down the bunt with two strikes inthe count, a call that Indians manager Eric Wedge did not makebut a decision he supported. "I respect the fact that he still wanted to get it down and tryto do it, but their pitcher made a great play," Wedge said."(Michaels) was aggressive right there. If he holds there and(Baker) doesn't make the play, he's out at second base so wedon't gain anything. "If he doesn't make a great catch then we've got a runner atsecond base right there. So at that point in time you have totake chances and risks, and I understand that." Kubel singled twice and walked twice for Minnesota, while JustinMorneau went 0-for-4 to remain hitless in his last 14 at-bats. No Indians hitter made it past second base, and Grady Sizemorewent 0-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch to end his season-high 12-gamehitting streak. Cleveland has now lost six of its last eight games, but thanksto Detroit's five-game losing streak, still leads the divisionby a half-game. The Tigers have lost nine of their last 10games. "We are still optimistic that when we do get it going we shouldbe tough to beat," third baseman Casey Blake said. "But rightnow, these are times that are tough to deal with. "We're pretty fortunate that things are maybe going on the waythey are going on right now."
