The Indians have scored a total of 26 runs in the first two of a three-game series against the Twins. They lost, 10-9, Friday and won, 17-4, Saturday.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Abraham Almonte went 4-for-5 with a homer and two doubles in his team debut and Jerry Sands hit a pinch-hit grand slam as the Cleveland Indians crushed the Minnesota Twins, 17-4, Saturday night at Progressive Field. Tribe second baseman Jose Ramirez singled, tripled and doubled in his first three at-bats. Tribe left fielder Michael Brantley went 3-for-4 with an RBI, two runs and a ridiculously good walk.
Here is a capsule look at the game after a DVR review of the Fox SportsTime Ohio telecast:
Who are these guys?: On a seven-game trip to Oakland and Anaheim, July 30-Aug. 5, the Indians scored a total of 16 runs in going 3-4.
In their past two games, they have scored a total of 26 runs. On Friday night, they lost the opener of the three-game series, 10-9.
The Indians are 50-59; the Twins, 55-55.
Strong first impression: Almonte, batting eighth and playing center field, put on a show. Almonte was acquired from San Diego for Marc Rzepczynski and initially optioned to Class AAA Columbus.
Leading off the second inning, Almonte hit the first pitch for a double to center. He drilled a get-me-over fastball from righty Ervin Santana.
Almonte scored on Ramirez's one-out hustle triple. Ramirez scored on Francisco Lindor's sacrifice fly to push the Tribe's lead to 4-1.
With a runner on first and one out in the third, Almonte took a ball. Santana threw a fastball running away, and Almonte, with his second swing as an Indian, one-hopped the left-field wall for another double. The runner, Giovanny Urshela, stopped at third.
Fox SportsTime Ohio analyst Rick Manning said: "Two swings, two doubles. And I mean, they were smoked....Where has he been?''
Almonte scored on Ramirez's two-run double that made it 7-1 and knocked out Santana (2 1/3 IP, 10 H, 8 R).
With runners on second and third and two outs in the fourth, Almonte grounded righty J.R. Graham's 1-2 pitch to Graham.
Leading off the seventh, Almonte smacked righty Blaine Boyer's first pitch to center for a single.
With a runner on first and none out in the eighth, Almonte belted a 2-1 fastball from righty A.J. Achter into the Tribe bullpen.
Dr. Smooth on call: Brantley did what Brantley does: Antagonize pitchers. He owns multiple hits in four consecutive starts and at least one hit in 11 consecutive starts.
Brantley singled to drive in a run in the first, doubled in the second and singled in the seventh. But his most impressive work resulted in the walk, which opened the door for a five-run fifth inning.
Graham retired the first two before Lindor singled to third. Lefty Ryan O'Rourke got ahead of Brantley, 0-2.
The next nine pitches went: ball, foul, foul, ball, foul, foul, ball, foul, ball. Brantley spit on the 11th overall, a good off-speed pitch that rode just low, for the walk.
Carlos Santana walked, Yan Gomes walked with the bases loaded and, after Boyer replaced O'Rourke, Sands hit the grand slam -- the Tribe's first of the season. The Indians led, 13-3.
Bauer power: Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer allowed four runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out eight.
Bauer has struggled with the Twins in his brief career, and he did not possess his best stuff Saturday. But he was good enough, with plenty of help from his offense, to earn the victory. He is 9-8 with a 4.06 ERA.
All of the runs against Bauer came via the homer: Joe Mauer solo (1-2 fastball); Kurt Suzuki (1-2 curve); and Eddie Rosario (1-0 fastball).
Here is a pitch-by-pitch breakdown of Bauer's start:
FIRST INNING
(R) Brian Dozier -- 92 fastball called strike (outside corner at knees); 92 fastball low and outside; 84 slider down and away; 92 fastball foul; 85 slider low; 92 fastball, called strikeout.
Skinny: Dozier thought he had walked, but plate umpire Mike Everitt made the correct call on a pitch with comeback action.
(L) Joe Mauer -- 83 changeup foul (yard from being double off LF wall); 91 fastball inside; 92 fastball foul (comeback to inner half); 93 fastball, homer to right.
Skinny: Catcher Roberto Perez appeared to want breaking pitch away, but Bauer overruled him with fastball in. Mauer crushed a pitch that was off inside corner at thighs....20th homer allowed by Indians in first inning.
(R) Miguel Sano -- 83 high and inside; 84 high; 92 fastball foul; 92 fastball outside; 93 fastball foul; 86 slider, grounder to second.
(R) Trevor Plouffe -- 92 fastball foul; 86 slider down and away; 84 breaking pitch high; 91 fastball high and outside; 93 fastball outside, walk.
(R) Torii Hunter -- 92 fastball high; (Perez visits mound); 86 down and away; 85 slider outside; 93 fastball outside, walk.
Skinny: Bauer with 15 balls and 10 strikes. Manning said: "(Bauer's) nibbling instead of being aggressive.''
(Tribe pitching coach Mickey Callaway visits mound.)
(L) Eddie Rosario -- 93 fastball down and in; 93 fastball foul; 94 fastball foul; 79 curve in dirt; 78 curve foul; 94 fastball, swinging strikeout (up).
Skinny: Changing speeds and eye levels with final two pitches paid off.
SECOND INNING
(L) Aaron Hicks -- 92 fastball called strike; 92 fastball, bunt single to third.
Skinny: Indians manager Terry Francona was sure Hicks' front foot was out of the box at the time of the bunt. Replays supported Francona, who spoke with Everitt. The hit stood.
(R) Kurt Suzuki -- 85 slider, GIDP 1-6-3.
Skinny: Suzuki was sitting on first-pitch fastball but got quality pitch off outside corner. Tribe shortstop Lindor appeared to get away with phantom tag during turn.
(L) Eduardo Escobar -- 93 fastball high; 85 called strike; 85 foul; 77 curve, swinging strikeout (in dirt).
THIRD INNING
(R) Brian Dozier -- fastball called strike; 92 fastball outside; 86 called strike (outer third); 78 curve, swinging strikeout (in dirt away).
Skinny: Dozier upset with Everitt for not seeking help, but Dozier was begging: It was a swing that did not need appeal.
(L) Joe Mauer -- 86 high; 87 called strike (inner third); 92 fastball high and outside; 93 fastball called strike (outside corner at knees); 94 fastball, swinging strikeout (two-thirds swing at pitch off outside corner).
Skinny: The final two fastballs were terrific.
(R) Miguel Sano -- 93 fastball foul; 94 fastball swinging strike; 78 curve, single to second.
Skinny: Jose Ramirez fielded behind second.
(R) Trevor Plouffe -- 94 fastball called strike; 93 fastball high; 86 down and away; 93 fastball swinging strike; 94 fastball, called strikeout.
Skinny: Plouffe upset with Everitt, and justifiably so: The pitch was at the knees but started outside and stayed several inches outside.
FOURTH INNING
(R) Torii Hunter -- 91 fastball high; 83 slider, grounder to third.
(L) Eddie Rosario -- 85 slider inside; 93 fastball foul; 86 down and in; 93 fastball, single to right.
(L) Aaron Hicks -- 92 fastball foul; 84 slider low; 86 down and in; 92 fastball, fly to center.
(R) Kurt Suzuki -- 93 fastball called strike; 85 slider outside; 91 fastball foul; 79 curve, two-run homer to left.
Skinny: Suzuki's fourth homer of season came off pitch that stayed over the plate on the inner half. Perez was set up away.
(L) Eduardo Escobar -- 93 fastball, grounder to short.
FIFTH INNING
(R) Brian Dozier -- off-speed high; 91 fastball foul; 92 fastball swinging strike; 86 slider outside; 94 fastball, single to center (up).
(L) Joe Mauer -- 92 fastball foul; 85 changeup low; 93 fastball, GIDP 4-6-3.
Skinny: Mauer rolled over pitch on outside corner at thighs.
(R) Miguel Sano -- 94 fastball low and outside; 86 breaking pitch swinging strike; 86 slider swinging strike; 87 slider outside; 94 fastball, called strikeout.
Skinny: Sano locked up by a pitch on outside corner at knees.
SIXTH INNING
(R) Trevor Plouffe -- fastball called strike; 83 breaking pitch swinging strike; 75 curve foul; 78 curve in dirt; 92 fastball high; 83 breaking pitch, grounder to second.
(R) Torii Hunter -- 83 breaking pitch called strike; 91 fastball called strike; 85 breaking pitch outside; 78 curve, swinging strikeout (in dirt).
Skinny: Nasty 12-to-6 drop.
(L) Eddie Rosario -- 91 fastball outside; 91 fastball, homer to right.
Skinny: Rosario hammered a pitch middle/in.
(L) Aaron Hicks -- 83 changeup called strike; 85 breaking pitch foul; 78 curve in dirt; 78 curve down and in; 93 fastball, grounder to second.
Skinny: Quality backhanded play by Ramirez.
SEVENTH INNING
(R) Kurt Suzuki -- 92 fastball outside; 83 slider outside; 91 fastball foul; 91 fastball foul; 85 off-speed, fly to left.
Skinny: Michael Brantley made catch on track.
(L) Eduardo Escobar -- 84 slider called strike; 83 off-speed outside; 92 fastball high; 93 fastball outside; 92 fastball outside, walk.
(Ryan Webb relieves Bauer.)