MINNEAPOLIS - Cleveland Indians designated hitter Yan Gomes had three hits and four runs batted in, leading the Cleveland Indians to a 7-3 victory Saturday night at Target Field.
Gomes’ three-run homer in the top of the fifth inning broke the game open for the Indians, who moved to within 3 1/2 games of the final wild card spot in the American League.
Cleveland got on the board with three runs in the second inning, one in the third and three more in the fifth, providing plenty of offensive support for rookie left-hander T.J. House, who went five innings and gave up two runs on six hits and a walk to improve to 4-3.
Outfielders David Murphy and Michael Brantley each had two hits for the Indians. Second baseman Mike Aviles drove in a pair with a two-run triple to get the scoring started in the second inning.
Twins second baseman Brian Dozier had three hits to lead the Twins, including a solo home run. Shortstop Danny Santana went 0-for-4, his 17-game hitting streak at Target Field coming to an end.
ADVERTISEMENT
Right-hander Trevor May, the winner of three straight decisions entering the night, was roughed up, allowing seven runs on eight hits and a pair of walks, taking the loss and dropping to 3-4.
Indians lefty Marc Rzepcyynski pitched 1 1/3 innings of flawless relief for his first save of the year.
After Aviles’ triple in the second, Michael Bourn followed with an RBI single to make it 3-0.
With the Indians up 4-2 in the fifth, Gomes blasted a three-run homer over the wall in right, busting the game open and ending May’s night.
NOTES: First pitch of Saturday’s game was delayed one hour due to heavy rain and thunderstorms in the Twin Cities area. ... The Twins scratched OF Aaron Hicks from the lineup with a stiff back. He is day-to-day. ... The two teams will play the final game of their season series Sunday. Right-handers Anthony Swarzak (Twins) and Corey Kluber (Indians) are the projected starting pitchers.
