Indians, Tomlin win 6-1
Published 12:50 am Monday, July 18, 2016
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Josh Tomlin pitched 7 2-3 strong innings, Mike Napoli hit one of three Cleveland homers and the Indians beat the Minnesota Twins 6-1 Sunday.
Chris Gimenez had two RBIs off the bench as the division-leading Indians won for just the third time in eight games.
Max Kepler homered for Minnesota.
Tomlin (10-2), who gave up eight runs — including a season-high five earned — in 4 2-3 innings against Detroit in his previous outing July 6, looked more like the pitcher that had six straight quality starts before that outing. He allowed six hits and struck out four against the Twins.
Minnesota had two runners on in the first, but just three over the next four innings as Tomlin breezed through the Minnesota lineup. He retired 11 straight before Kepler homered in the sixth.
Twins starter Kyle Gibson (2-6) allowed 10 hits and four earned runs in six innings. He struck out four.
Napoli homered into the second deck in left field for a 1-0 lead in the second. It was his 20th of the season — and second in three games — to tie Carlos Santana for the team lead.
Three straight two-out singles by Cleveland in the fifth inning increased the lead to 2-0 when Francisco Lindor’s RBI single scored Santana.
However, the inning was overshadowed by an injury to catcher Yan Gomes. He was carted off the field with a right shoulder injury.
Running out a grounder, Gomes stepped awkwardly on first base as he tried to avoid the swipe tag of first baseman Kennys Vargas, who was pulled off the bag on the throw from third baseman Eduardo Nunez. Gomes landed on his shoulder as he tumbled to the ground. He’ll be evaluated Monday in Cleveland.
Gomes snapped an 0-for-27 hitless streak in the third inning with a double that went off the foot of Gibson and trickled into the outfield through a hole at shortstop.
Gimenez replaced Gomes behind the plate and hit a two-run single in the sixth for a 4-0 lead. Tyler Naquin homered in the eighth and Jason Kipnis in the ninth.
TRAINERS ROOM
Indians: RHP Tommy Hunter was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a non-displaced fracture in his lower back. Cleveland recalled RHP Cody Anderson from Triple-A Columbus to replace him. Manager Terry Francona said Hunter was carrying his child during the All-Star Break and tripped on a stair, injuring his back protecting the child. Hunter still felt pain while throwing Saturday and an MRI found the fracture.
Twins: General manager Terry Ryan said 3B Trevor Plouffe, on the disabled list since July 2 with a fractured left rib, is making progress, but “there’s still some things when he’s sleeping and moving.”
UP NEXT
Indians: Corey Kluber (9-8, 3.61), who earned the win at the All-Star Game with a scoreless inning, takes to the mound Monday in Kansas City against the Royals’ Edinson Volquez (8-8, 4.85). Since June 5, Kluber is 5-2 with a 2.79 ERA, allowing more than two earned runs just twice.
Twins: Coming off consecutive quality starts, Ricky Nolasco (4-7, 5.22) is scheduled to be on the mound as the Twins open a three-game series Monday in Detroit. Matt Boyd (0-2, 5.77) is scheduled to start for the Tigers.