Cleveland Indians - Minnesota Twins 5-8

So much for the winning streak!

One day after winning two games in a row, and sending the Minnesota Twins to their sixth straight loss, the Cleveland Indians lost 8-5, and failed to move up a game on the division leading White Sox, who also lost.

Paul Byrd was knocked around for six runs on six hits in just three innings of work. Even so, the Indians climbed to within 6-5 before Joe Borowski gave up two runs in the top of the ninth, thus knocking out any hope for a comeback.

Borowski had been looking pretty good up until returning from his stint to the disabled list with a tired arm.

Each team scored a run in the second, but Minnesota broke the game open with five runs in the third that sent Byrd to the showers with the loss.

Gomez bunted himself on to lead off the five run third. Alexi Casilla sac-bunted Gomez to second. After a Mauer walk, Justin Morneau doubled in Casilla, giving Minnesota the 3-1 lead. Michael Cuddyer doubled Morneau home, then came home himself when Jason Kubel slammed a 2-1 pitch to dead center for a home run, completing the five run outburst.

The Indians got a couple home runs of their own as they attempted a comeback. In the sixth, Kelly Shoppach, who replaced an injured Victor Martinez, homered to center, cutting the lead to 6-2. Martinez left in the first after he visibly displayed a wince of pain during his only plate appearance. He will have an MRI done on his right elbow, an injury that has hampered his offense for some time.

Grady Sizemore hit a three run home run in the bottom of the seventh after a David Dellucci walk and a Casey Blake single. That made it 6-5, and it looked like MAYBE the Indians might pull off a comeback.

Enter Joe Borowski. With one out, Gomez hit an in-field single to short. He stole second and came home on a Casilla single. Casilla also stole second. Mauer flied out, but Morneau picked up his third RBI of the night with a double to the left.  Cuddyer lined out to end the inning, but by then, the Twins were up 8-5.

Joe Nathan came in for Minnesota, and gave up a two-out single to Jamey Carrol prior to inducing a game-ending ground-out to Grady Sizemore.

The Twins are two games up against Cleveland in the standings with this win.  They got eight runs on ten hits, while Morneau and Kubel accounted for half of Minnesota’s ten hits. 

The Indians had ten hits of their own, but only mustered five runs out of their total. Blake, Carrol, and Sizemore paced the way for Cleveland’s offense, delivering eight of the Tribe’s ten hits.

The rubber match of the three-game set is Thursday. Hernandez versus Laffey. Aaron Laffey was named AL rookie of the month for his performance in May.