Jason Kipnis launched a 3-run homer in the sixth inning, and Mike Clevinger struck out nine Twins batters as Cleveland beat Minnesota, 5-3
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jason Kipnis' three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning Thursday afternoon helped the Indians finish off the Minnesota Twins, 5-3, at Progressive Field in the teams' final meeting of the season.
Mike Clevinger (10-7, 3.17) earned the win. He struck out nine Twins hitters in 6 2/3 innings and allowed a pair of unearned runs. Clevinger did not walk a batter for the third time this season and picked up his fifth victory across 11 starts against an A.L. Central Division opponent (5-1, 2.21).
Clevinger said the mechanical adjustments he made in July are starting to pay huge dividends now.
"We looked at the data and everything was lining up good, I just wasn't used to getting my arm that extended," Clevinger said. "Everything is kind of still building. I think it is trending upward. My average velocity is trending upward. Body feels good. Trying to always keep the mechanics going."
Cleveland rallied to score four runs in the sixth inning. After Twins starter Jake Odorizzi (5-9, 4.41) issued back-to-back one-out walks to Jose Ramirez and Edwin Encarnacion, Yonder Alonso delivered an RBI single off reliever Alan Busenitz that tied the score at 2-2.
"He's hit a couple balls this last week hard the other way," manager Terry Francona said of Alonso. "He's not going to make a living over there, but there's a lot of hits over there. It keeps you on balance and gives you a chance to hit other pitches."
Following a Melky Cabrera flyout, Kipnis launched Busenitz's 2-2 offering high into the air in right. The ball carried just over the wall and right fielder Max Kepler's glove for a three-run homer. It was Kipnis' 13th home run of the season and second this week. In the series against Minnesota, Kipnis batted 5-for-9 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored.
"I was willing it over that wall," Kipnis said of his homer. "I was hoping I got enough of it and I was watching the whole time. I usually just then watch the outfielder and see how big his eyes are getting or if he's timing up a jump. Once the fans arms go up, mine goes up with them."
Relievers Oliver Perez, Cody Allen and Brad Hand pitched the final 2 1/3 innings to pick up Clevinger. Hand allowed a leadoff home run to Miguel Sano in the ninth, but recovered to earn his 30th save. Perez struck out the only two batters he faced.
Allen entered in the eighth to a smattering of boos one day after suffering his fifth blown save. He walked Logan Forsythe, but worked out of the inning when Robbie Grossman popped to right and Forsythe got caught in a rundown trying to advance on a pitch in the dirt. An excited Allen pumped his fist after applying the tag on Forsythe for the final out of the inning.
Kipnis said no athlete likes to get booed at home, but by the end of the inning he was glad to see the crowd had turned around and was behind Allen.
"I can't tell you how much, as an athlete, that helps us more than the boos do," Kipnis said. "To get two outs there and to have it be kind of a little fun one where he's involved in the rundown and finishes it off, that was good."
Cleveland broke through in the fourth against Odorizzi when Michael Brantley doubled to the gap in left center and came around to score on Encarnacion's RBI single.
Encarnacion, facing a 3-2 count against Odorizzi, paused to toss his sunglasses to Alonso in the on-deck circle before serving Odorizzi's next offering into right field for his 91st RBI.
Encarnacion, who is hitting .321 with three homers and 10 RBI since returning from the disabled list on Aug. 22, has reached the 90-RBI mark for the seventh straight season, the longest current stretch in the majors. His 53 RBI at home are the third most in the American League.
"He looks more like himself to me," Francona said. "I love when guys hit the ball the other way. It just allows you to hit more pitches and not be so vulnerable to off-speed pitches."
But Minnesota responded after Mitch Garver reached on an error by Ramirez to lead off the fifth. Clevinger struck out the next two batters, but fell behind No. 9 hitter Ehire Adrianza, who homered to right field on a 2-0 count to put the Twins in front, 2-1.
Adrianza's blast snapped a 10-inning home scoreless streak for Clevinger, who went on to retire six of the next seven Twins he faced.
What it means
Cleveland wins the season series against the Twins, 9-8 and pushes its lead in the A.L. Central Division back out to a season-high 14 games. The Tribe's magic number to clinch a third consecutive division title is down to 16 with 29 games remaining.
In the chase for the No. 2 seed in the American League playoffs, and home field advantage in the Division Series, the Indians trail Houston by 6 games. The Astros host the Angels on Thursday at 8 p.m.
Interesting strategy
Minnesota employed a drastic shift with four outfielders and nobody on the left side of the infield against Jose Ramirez in his first-inning at-bat. Ramirez ended up lining out to right fielder Max Kepler on a ball that would have been a double against a three-man outfield. According to Statcast, it was the only time this season an Indians player had faced an at-bat against a four-man outfield.
Francona said he does not think the strategy will catch on, though.
"If teams do that, Josey's going to bunt a double," Francona said. "Josey'll end up on second one way or another."
That stings
Clevinger took a one-hop smash to the inner thigh off the bat of Forsythe in the fourth inning. He recovered to throw the runner out, but took a few warmup tosses after Francona and Indians trainers came out to check on him.
The pitches
Odorizzi threw 94 pitches, 53 (56 percent) for strikes. Clevinger threw 114 pitches, 70 (61 percent) for strikes.
Thanks for coming
The Twins and Indians drew 20,244 to Progressive Field on Thursday afternoon. First pitch was at 1:10 p.m. with a temperature of 73 degrees.
Next
Right-hander Corey Kluber (16-7, 2.91) will start Friday night for the Indians as Tampa Bay comes to Progressive Field for the first time in 2018. He'll face right-hander Tyler Glasnow (0-1, 3.80) at 7:10 p.m. SportsTime Ohio, WTAM and WMMS will carry the game.
Kluber last started against Tampa Bay on Aug. 13, 2017 at Tropicana Field where he picked up a win, pitching seven innings and allowing three runs. He owns a career 4-2 record and 2.44 ERA in eight starts against the Rays. Glasgow will make his first career appearance against Cleveland.