Indians snap losing streak, top Twins 6-2
Justin Masterson pitched seven strong innings and Shin-Soo Choo went 4 for 4 to lift Cleveland over Minnesota 6-2 Wednesday, ending the Indians' 11-game losing streak.
The Indians avoided tying the 1931 franchise record for consecutive losses. Cleveland, which was outscored 95-36 in the streak, won for the first time since July 26.
Masterson (8-10) allowed two runs and three hits in seven innings. His only mistake came when Alexi Casilla hit his first home run of the season - a two-run shot in the fifth.
Choo drove in two runs with a double in the first and a single in the second.
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Brian Duensing (2-7) allowed six runs, including four earned, and 11 hits in seven innings.
The Indians also broke a seven-game losing streak to the Twins, who lost for only the fourth time in 13 games.
Ben Revere was hitless in four at-bats, ending his 21-game hitting streak.
Jason Kipnis walked to start the first, stole second and scored on Choo's double to center. Carlos Santana followed with a line drive single up the middle.
An error by second baseman Tsuyoshi Nishioka - his third in three games since being called up from the minors - helped Cleveland score twice in the second. After Casey Kotchman singled, Nishioka made a diving stop behind second, but tried to flip the ball with his glove to Brian Dozier. The toss wasn't even close and an error was charged.
Two-out singles by Cabrera and Choo scored the runs.
Masterson didn't allow a baserunner until Dozier walked with one out in the third. Casilla followed with a single, but Masterson retired the next two hitters.
Casilla got Minnesota back in the game in the fifth. Dozier drew a leadoff walk before Casilla homered on a 1-2 pitch.
Nishioka's misadventures continued in the sixth. He lost Shelley Duncan's routine popup a few feet into the outfield in the sun and it fell for a double. After a sacrifice and the infield playing in, he made a high throw to the plate on Kotchman's grounder and pinch-runner Ezequiel Carrera scored. Kipnis added a sacrifice fly.
Cabrera appeared to injure his right shoulder while batting in the second. Manager Manny Acta and trainer Lonnie Soloff came on the field to talk to Cabrera, who remained in the game.
NOTES: Casilla started for the first time in the series and played third base. ... The Twins are off Thursday and begin a three-game series at Target Field against Tampa Bay on Friday. Cole De Vries (2-2) faces Jeremy Hellickson in a matchup of right-handers. ... DH Travis Hafner (back soreness) missed his third straight game for Cleveland. ... The Indians begin a four-game series at home against Boston on Thursday night. RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (8-11) meets LHP Felix Doubront (10-5).
