GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: MINNESOTA (52-51) at CLEVELAND (60-44)

AL: MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND

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MINNESOTA (4) AT CLEVELAND (1) - HOW THEY SCORED
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CLEVELAND 2ND: J Peralta singled to right. T Nixon doubled to deep center,
J Peralta scored. C Blake grounded out to first, T Nixon to third. J Barfield
struck out swinging. G Sizemore struck out looking. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
MINNESOTA 0, CLEVELAND 1.

MINNESOTA 8TH: L Ford grounded out to shortstop. J Tyner hit by pitch.
J Bartlett struck out swinging. M Redmond hit for N Punto. M Redmond doubled
to deep right, J Tyner scored. L Rodriguez ran for M Redmond. J Mauer safe at
first on throwing error by second baseman J Barfield, L Rodriguez advanced to
third on play, L Rodriguez scored, J Mauer to second on throwing error by
second baseman J Barfield. J Morneau doubled to deep left, J Mauer scored.
R Betancourt relieved C Sabathia. T Hunter popped out to second. (3 Runs, 2 Hits,
2 Errors) MINNESOTA 3, CLEVELAND 1.

MINNESOTA 9TH: R White struck out swinging. J Cirillo flied out to center.
L Ford homered to left. J Tyner struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
MINNESOTA 4, CLEVELAND 1.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND

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MINNESOTA (4) AT CLEVELAND (1) - EVENT LOG
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Minnesota Starting Lineups -- J Bartlett SS, N Punto 2B, J Mauer C, J Morneau 1B,
T Hunter CF, R White DH, J Cirillo 3B, L Ford LF, J Tyner RF, M Garza RHP.

Cleveland Starting Lineups -- G Sizemore CF, K Lofton LF, V Martinez C,
T Hafner DH, R Garko 1B, J Peralta SS, T Nixon RF, C Blake 3B, J Barfield 2B,
C Sabathia LHP.

Umpires -- Wally Bell (HP), Bill Welke (1B), John Hirschbeck (2B), Laz Diaz (3B).

Gametime Weather: 76 degrees, Sunny, wind in from center at 15 mph.


MINNESOTA 1ST: J Bartlett flied out to right. N Punto grounded out to
first. J Mauer struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0,
CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 1ST: G Sizemore walked. K Lofton singled to left, G Sizemore to
second. V Martinez struck out swinging. T Hafner struck out looking.
G Sizemore to third, K Lofton to second on wild pitch by M Garza. R Garko
struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, CLEVELAND 0.

MINNESOTA 2ND: J Morneau grounded out to shortstop. T Hunter struck
out swinging. R White fouled out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
MINNESOTA 0, CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 2ND: J Peralta singled to right. T Nixon doubled to deep center,
J Peralta scored. C Blake grounded out to first, T Nixon to third. J Barfield
struck out swinging. G Sizemore struck out looking. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
MINNESOTA 0, CLEVELAND 1.

MINNESOTA 3RD: J Cirillo popped out to shortstop. L Ford struck out
swinging. J Tyner singled to right center, J Tyner to second on error by right
fielder T Nixon. J Bartlett grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error)
MINNESOTA 0, CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 3RD: K Lofton grounded out to pitcher. V Martinez hit by pitch.
T Hafner grounded into double play, shortstop to first, V Martinez out at
second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, CLEVELAND 1.

MINNESOTA 4TH: N Punto struck out looking. J Mauer struck out swinging.
J Morneau singled to left. T Hunter grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop,
J Morneau out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 4TH: R Garko grounded out to third. J Peralta struck out
swinging. T Nixon walked. C Blake lined out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, CLEVELAND 1.

MINNESOTA 5TH: R White struck out swinging. J Cirillo doubled to deep
left. L Ford struck out swinging. J Tyner flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 5TH: J Barfield struck out swinging. G Sizemore doubled to right
center. K Lofton struck out swinging. V Martinez grounded out to third.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, CLEVELAND 1.

MINNESOTA 6TH: J Bartlett doubled to left. J Bartlett stole third. N Punto
struck out swinging. J Mauer struck out swinging. J Morneau struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 6TH: T Hafner struck out looking. R Garko singled to left
center. J Peralta struck out swinging. T Nixon walked, R Garko to second.
C Blake struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, CLEVELAND 1.

MINNESOTA 7TH: T Hunter popped out to second. R White flied out to right.
J Cirillo grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0,
CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 7TH: D Reyes relieved M Garza. J Barfield popped out to shortstop.
G Sizemore struck out looking. K Lofton grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, CLEVELAND 1.

MINNESOTA 8TH: L Ford grounded out to shortstop. J Tyner hit by pitch.
J Bartlett struck out swinging. M Redmond hit for N Punto. M Redmond doubled
to deep right, J Tyner scored. L Rodriguez ran for M Redmond. J Mauer safe
at first on throwing error by second baseman J Barfield, L Rodriguez advanced
to third on play, L Rodriguez scored, J Mauer to second on throwing error
by second baseman J Barfield. J Morneau doubled to deep left, J Mauer scored.
R Betancourt relieved C Sabathia. T Hunter popped out to second. (3 Runs, 2 Hits,
2 Errors) MINNESOTA 3, CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 8TH: L Rodriguez at second base. V Martinez grounded out to
shortstop. T Hafner singled to right. P Neshek relieved D Reyes. R Garko
grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, T Hafner out at
second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 3, CLEVELAND 1.

MINNESOTA 9TH: R White struck out swinging. J Cirillo flied out to center.
L Ford homered to left. J Tyner struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
MINNESOTA 4, CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 9TH: J Nathan relieved P Neshek. J Peralta doubled to deep left
center. T Nixon grounded out to shortstop. C Blake singled to left, J Peralta
to third. F Gutierrez hit for J Barfield. F Gutierrez grounded into double
play, shortstop to first, C Blake out at second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
MINNESOTA 4, CLEVELAND 1.</div>

 

Sabathia's stellar effort undone by defense

<h3>MINNESOTA 4, CLEVELAND 1</h3>CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- C.C. Sabathia's own team prevented himfrom being the major league's first 14-game winner.

The Minnesota Twins scored three runs in the eighth inning tobeat Sabathia and the Cleveland Indians, 4-1, in the rubber gameof the three-game series Sunday.


After losing the first six games of the season between the twoteams, Minnesota won the last two to take the road series.

Sabathia was on pace to pick up his 14th win of the season whenthe Indians defense abandoned him in the eighth.


With a 1-0 lead heading into the penultimate frame, Sabathialooked like he was on his way to his second shutout of theseason, but things unraveled quickly.


With one out, Sabathia hit Jason Tyner in the back with a pitch.After Nick Punto struck out, pinch-hitting catcher MikeRedmond hit an RBI double over the head of right fielder TrotNixon to tie the score.


Nixon immediately moved in and froze before running back as theball went over his head, barely making it to the warning track.

The Indians defense went from bad to worse when Joe Mauer hit aroutine grounder to second baseman Josh Barfield, who failed tocleanly field the ball before unleashing a wild throw wide offirst base. Barfield was charged with two errors on the play,allowing pinch runner Luis Rodriguez to score for a 2-1 lead.

Justin Morneau followed with an RBI double on Sabathia's 119thpitch, ending the hefty lefthander's afternoon.


Sabathia (13-6) allowed three runs - one earned - and six hitsin 7 2/3 innings. He also equaled his career high with 11strikeouts and did not issue a walk.


It was the second tough-luck loss for Sabathia during the week.On Tuesday, he was on the wrong end of a 1-0 loss to the BostonRed Sox.


Lew Ford added an insurance run with a solo home run in theninth off of Rafael Betancourt.


Dennys Reyes (2-1) picked up the win, pitching 1 1/3 scorelessinnings. Reliever Pat Neshek worked a inning-ending double playin the eighth before closer Joe Nathan overcame two hits in theninth to pick up his 22nd save in 24 opportunities.

Sabathia was cruising until getting into some trouble in thesixth. After not allowing the leadoff man to reach base in thefirst five innings, Sabathia gave up a leadoff double to JasonBartlett to start the sixth. The shortstop stole third base,but that would be as far as he would go.


Sabathia promptly struck out Punto the pitch after the stolenbase and fanned both Mauer and Morneau to escape the inningunscathed.


Rookie Matt Garza was nearly as dominant as Sabathia as heallowed only one run and five hits in six innings. Therighthander did set a new career high with 11 strikeouts.

The Indians managed their only run in the second inning on anRBI double by Nixon. Garza allowed a leadoff single to JhonnyPeralta before Nixon hit a 2-2 pitch into the gap inright-center.


Despite the fine effort, Garza failed to figure in the decisionbecause of a lack of run support. In his last three gamespitched, the Twins offense has scored only five times, countingthe three runs that they plated after he left the contest.

The loss dropped Cleveland to 2-5 on its season-high 10-gamehomestand.

 

Sabathia's stellar effort undone by defense

<h3>MINNESOTA 4, CLEVELAND 1</h3>CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- C.C. Sabathia's own team prevented himfrom being the major league's first 14-game winner.

The Minnesota Twins scored three runs in the eighth inning tobeat Sabathia and the Cleveland Indians, 4-1, in the rubber gameof the three-game series Sunday.


After losing the first six games of the season between the twoteams, Minnesota won the last two to take the road series.

"It was a great win for our ballclub," Twins manager RonGardenhire said. "We won the series after the first game waspretty ugly."


Sabathia was on pace to pick up his 14th win of the season whenthe Indians defense abandoned him in the eighth.


With a 1-0 lead heading into the penultimate frame, Sabathialooked like he was on his way to his second shutout of theseason, but things unraveled quickly.


With one out, Sabathia hit Jason Tyner in the back with a pitch.After Nick Punto struck out, pinch-hitting catcher Mike Redmondhit an RBI double over the head of right fielder Trot Nixon totie the score.


"I knew I hit it good," said Redmond, who improved to 8-for-15(.533) off of Sabathia. "I saw (Nixon) going back. I didn'trealize he was that shallow until I hit it."


Nixon immediately moved in and froze before running back as theball went over his head, barely making it to the warning track.

"(Redmond) hit it over my head," Nixon said.


Indians manager Eric Wedge defended his move of leaving Nixon inthe game instead of replacing him with rookie FranklinGutierrez, which he has done in the past.


"The only run we scored was courtesy of Trot," Wedge said. "Hehad good at-bats all day. It's tough to win a 1-0 ballgame. Wewanted to take advantage his bat in the lineup in case(Minnesota) tied it up."


The Indians defense went from bad to worse when Joe Mauer hit aroutine grounder to second baseman Josh Barfield, who failed tocleanly field the ball before unleashing a wild throw wide offirst base. Barfield was charged with two errors on the play,allowing pinch runner Luis Rodriguez to score for a 2-1 lead.

"You have to rush (the throw) after you kick it," Barfield said."I should have had plenty of time to field it cleanly. It'sunfortunate that it happened. That was the game."

Justin Morneau followed with an RBI double on Sabathia's 119thpitch, ending the hefty lefthander's afternoon.


"It got away from us in that inning," Wedge said.


Sabathia (13-6) allowed three runs - one earned - and six hitsin 7 2/3 innings. He also equaled his career high with 11strikeouts and did not issue a walk.


"I don't want to blame anybody, but myself," Sabathia said.

It was the second tough-luck loss for Sabathia during the week.On Tuesday, he was on the wrong end of a 1-0 loss to the BostonRed Sox.


"It's not tough," Sabathia said about the recent lack of runsupport. "If the guys aren't hitting, you need to pick them upby pitching a shutout."


Lew Ford added an insurance run with a solo home run in theninth off of Rafael Betancourt.


Dennys Reyes (2-1) picked up the win, pitching 1 1/3 scorelessinnings. Reliever Pat Neshek worked a inning-ending double playin the eighth before closer Joe Nathan overcame two hits in theninth to pick up his 22nd save in 24 opportunities.

Sabathia was cruising until getting into some trouble in thesixth. After not allowing the leadoff man to reach base in thefirst five innings, Sabathia gave up a leadoff double to JasonBartlett to start the sixth. The shortstop stole third base,but that would be as far as he would go.


Sabathia promptly struck out Punto the pitch after the stolenbase and fanned both Mauer and Morneau to escape the inningunscathed.


"I was just trying to keep the ball on the infield," Sabathiasaid. "I don't think about a strikeout until there are twostrikes. I was lucky enough to strike out the side."

Rookie Matt Garza was nearly as dominant as Sabathia as heallowed only one run and five hits in six innings. Therighthander did set a new career high with 11 strikeouts.

"I tried to put up zeroes against C.C.," Garza said. "That'swhat you have to do when you go head-to-head with him."

The Indians managed their only run in the second inning on anRBI double by Nixon. Garza allowed a leadoff single to JhonnyPeralta before Nixon hit a 2-2 pitch into the gap inright-center.


Despite the fine effort, Garza failed to figure in the decisionbecause of a lack of run support. In his last three gamespitched, the Twins offense has scored only five times, countingthe three runs that they plated after he left the contest.

The loss dropped Cleveland to 2-5 on its season-high 10-gamehomestand.