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

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

<h3>Twins face Indians in finale of four-game series</h3>

<div class="pre">Cleveland (62-49) at Minnesota (57-53) 8:10 pm EDT</div>

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Twins hope to draw closerin the American League Central Division on Monday when they facethe Cleveland Indians in the finale of a four-game series.

Minnesota has won two of the first three contests in this seriesto pull within 4 1/2 games of first-place Cleveland. Less thantwo weeks ago, the Twins were 9 1/2 games.


The Twins have won six of their last eight games.


Carlos Silva (9-11, 4.61 ERA) takes the mound for the Twins. Therighthander has won three of his last four starts, working intothe sixth inning in each contest.


Silva was not involved in the decision against the Indians on April23 after allowing three runs and seven hits in five innings. He is4-4 with a 5.11 ERA lifetime against them.


While the Twins are surging, the Indians have dropped 10 of theirlast 15 games.


The Indians counter with Paul Byrd (9-4, 4.43), who is 2-0 in hislast four starts. The righthander is riding the unbeaten streakdespite allowing four runs in three of those contests.

Byrd has had little trouble handling the Twins in his 14 lifetimestarts, going 8-3 with a 3.94 ERA against them.

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND AT MINNESOTA -- LINEUPS

CLEVELAND MINNESOTA
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Grady Sizemore CF .281 19 62 Jason Tyner LF .278 1 16
Kenny Lofton LF .298 7 25 Alexi Casilla 2B .254 0 5
Victor Martinez 1B .304 18 80 Joe Mauer C .303 5 47
Travis Hafner DH .253 17 69 Michael Cuddyer RF .289 10 58
Casey Blake 3B .267 15 54 Justin Morneau 1B .289 28 89
Jhonny Peralta SS .275 16 55 Torii Hunter CF .288 22 75
Franklin Gutierrez RF .298 7 16 Jason Kubel DH .249 9 44
Kelly Shoppach C .283 4 17 Brian Buscher 3B .263 0 1
Josh Barfield 2B .248 2 48 Nick Punto SS .208 1 20

Paul Byrd RHP (9-4, 4.43) Carlos Silva RHP (9-11, 4.61)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA
WARMUPS: CLE - PAUL BYRD (9-4, 4.43)
MIN - CARLOS SILVA (9-11, 4.61)

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
STARTING BATS: CLE - PAUL BYRD AND KELLY SHOPPACH
MIN - CARLOS SILVA AND JOE MAUER

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.281, 19 HR, 62 RBI)
K LOFTON (.298, 7 HR, 25 RBI)
V MARTINEZ (.304, 18 HR, 80 RBI)</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
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
MIN - CARLOS SILVA

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J TYNER (.278, 1 HR, 16 RBI)
A CASILLA (.254, 0 HR, 5 RBI)
J MAUER (.303, 5 HR, 47 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (0) VS MINNESOTA (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .297
V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
A Casilla 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
J Mauer c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
J Kubel dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 0 -- 0
MINNESOTA - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.43

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.58

Pitches-strikes: C Silva 12-8. Ground balls-fly balls: C Silva 2-0. Batters
faced: C Silva 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 AT MINNESOTA
CONFIRMED STARTERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
MIN - CARLOS SILVA</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
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
MIN - CARLOS SILVA

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: T HAFNER (.253, 17 HR, 69 RBI)
C BLAKE (.267, 15 HR, 54 RBI)
J PERALTA (.275, 16 HR, 55 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (0) VS MINNESOTA (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .297
V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
J Kubel dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 0 -- 0
MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.39

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.58

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 7-5; C Silva 12-8. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd
2-1; C Silva 2-0. Batters faced: P Byrd 3; C Silva 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
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 1 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
MIN - CARLOS SILVA

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M CUDDYER (.289, 10 HR, 58 RBI)
J MORNEAU (.289, 28 HR, 89 RBI)
T HUNTER (.288, 22 HR, 75 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (0) VS MINNESOTA (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .297
V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .252
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J Peralta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .277
F Gutierrez rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .295
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 3 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
J Kubel dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 00 -- 0
MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.39

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 4.54

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 7-5; C Silva 30-20. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd
2-1; C Silva 2-1. Batters faced: P Byrd 3; C Silva 7.

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
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
MIN - CARLOS SILVA

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: K SHOPPACH (.283, 4 HR, 17 RBI)
J BARFIELD (.248, 2 HR, 48 RBI)
G SIZEMORE (.280, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (0) VS MINNESOTA (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .297
V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .252
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J Peralta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .277
F Gutierrez rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .295
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 3 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .287
J Kubel dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 00 -- 0
MINNESOTA - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.36

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 4.54

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 18-12; C Silva 30-20. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd
2-3; C Silva 2-1. Batters faced: P Byrd 6; C Silva 7.

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 0 1 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
MIN - CARLOS SILVA

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J KUBEL (.249, 9 HR, 44 RBI)
B BUSCHER (.263, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
N PUNTO (.208, 1 HR, 20 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (0) VS MINNESOTA (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .280
K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .297
V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .252
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J Peralta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .277
F Gutierrez rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .295
K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247

Totals 10 0 1 0 0 4 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .287
J Kubel dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 000 -- 0
MINNESOTA - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.36

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 3 1 0 0 0 4 0 4.51

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 18-12; C Silva 42-29. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd
2-3; C Silva 4-1. Batters faced: P Byrd 6; C Silva 10.

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 0 1 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
MIN - CARLOS SILVA

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: K LOFTON (.297, 0-FOR-1)
V MARTINEZ (.303, 0-FOR-1)
T HAFNER (.252, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (0) VS MINNESOTA (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .280
K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .297
V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .252
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J Peralta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .277
F Gutierrez rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .295
K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247

Totals 10 0 1 0 0 4 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .275
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .287
J Kubel dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .252
B Buscher 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
N Punto ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .208

Totals 10 0 1 0 0 1 2

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


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 000 -- 0
MINNESOTA - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.33

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 3 1 0 0 0 4 0 4.51

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 31-20; C Silva 42-29. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd
4-4; C Silva 4-1. Batters faced: P Byrd 10; C Silva 10.

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 - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CASEY BLAKE SCORED VICTOR MARTINEZ.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C BLAKE ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1
MINNESOTA 0 TOP, 4TH

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J PERALTA (.277, 1-FOR-1)</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 1 3 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 1 0 (BOT 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
MIN - CARLOS SILVA

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: A CASILLA (.250, 0-FOR-1)
J MAUER (.302, 0-FOR-1)
M CUDDYER (.288, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (1) VS MINNESOTA (0) - MID 4TH - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .280
K Lofton lf 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .299
V Martinez 1b 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .303
T Hafner dh 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .251
C Blake 3b 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .268
J Peralta ss 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .277
F Gutierrez rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .295
K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247

Totals 14 1 3 1 1 4 3

BATTING: RBI - C Blake (55). 2-out RBI - C Blake. GIDP - T Hafner. Team LOB -
2.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .275
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .287
J Kubel dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .252
B Buscher 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
N Punto ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .208

Totals 10 0 1 0 0 1 2

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

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


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 000 1 -- 1
MINNESOTA - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.33

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 4 3 1 1 1 4 0 4.54

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 31-20; C Silva 60-41. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd
4-4; C Silva 6-2. Batters faced: P Byrd 10; C Silva 15.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>