Minnesota News Network

  • Home
  • MNN Reporter Team
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Crime & Court
    • Health
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Weather & Natural Disaster
  • Sports
    • Gophers
    • Twins
    • Wild
    • Timberwolves & Lynx
    • Vikings
  • Minnesota Matters
  • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support
You are here: Home / Sports / Twins-Cleveland set for game two of series tonight in Minneapolis

Twins-Cleveland set for game two of series tonight in Minneapolis

April 18, 2017 By Minnesota News Network

MINNEAPOLIS — The Cleveland Indians entered the Monday game against the Minnesota Twins with losses in seven of their past nine games, though manager Terry Francona said he didn’t feel there was any sort of World Series hangover affecting his team.

Cleveland simply had not put together enough pitching and hitting to win games.

“We haven’t swung the bats collectively really well,” Francona said. “At times we haven’t pitched well. I don’t attribute that to anything other than not swinging the bats real well yet. We’ve been inconsistent in our play.”

The Indians got back to their winning formula of steady starting pitching, lights-out bullpen work and some timely hitting in a 3-1 win against the Twins on Monday. Cleveland will try to further Francona’s point when it sends Josh Tomlin to the mound on Tuesday for the second game of the four-game series.

Right-hander Phil Hughes will start for the Twins.

Tomlin is a good example of Francona’s mention of pitching struggles. The right-hander is 0-2 with an 18.47 ERA this season. Tomlin gave up seven runs in 1 2/3 innings to the Chicago White Sox in his last start.

Despite Francona’s assessment, the Indians’ hitting — led by Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez — generally has been there. The pitching has been the biggest problem. Cleveland is tied for fifth in the American League in runs per game (4.46 per game), but the Indians also have the majors’ worst ERA at 5.01.

Danny Salazar pitched six innings and allowed one run to the Twins on Monday, and the bullpen added three scoreless innings, though closer Cody Allen loaded the bases in the ninth inning before getting Joe Mauer to fly out.

“They’ve had a couple injuries that they’ve dealt with,” Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said of Cleveland. “More than capable rotation; you know about their bullpen, a lot of exciting offensive players. We had a nice go at these guys last year, had a chance to win the overall season series near the end but couldn’t pull it out.”

The Indians won 10 of the 19 meetings between the two teams last season even as the Twins were on their way to a 103-loss season and Cleveland was winning the AL pennant.

Minnesota has shown its most improvement on the pitching side. The Twins own the major’s lowest ERA, 2.50.

“It’s early, but we have had a high number of quality starts, and they seem to be passing the baton each and every day to the next guy,” Molitor said. “Hopefully we can continue to respond in that fashion. It’s unfortunate that we’ve squandered some of those outstanding starts and not been able to put them in the win column.”

In his return from season-ending surgery last year for thoracic outlet syndrome, Hughes (2-0, 3.86 ERA) has won both of his outings with mixed results. He threw six innings of one-run ball to beat the White Sox on April 7, then came out on the right end despite yielding four runs in 5 2/3 innings against Detroit on Thursday.

Another player coming back from a lost season, Michael Brantley, helped push Cleveland to the win on Monday with his second home run of the season.

“He looks like Brantley (again), which is a big compliment to him and his work ethic,” Francona said.

Brantley said: “I’m getting there, let’s put it that way. It’s going to take some repetition. It’s going to take some time. I understand that. I understand the process that it takes now from being out for a little while — actually a long while. It’s going to take a little bit of time, but we’re taking the right steps in the positive direction.”

###

Copyright © 2017
TTWN Media Networks Inc.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Sports

compeer financial celebrates beef month

compeer financial celebrates beef month

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

Minnesota News Network Follow 12,768 1,275

Long time legendary statewide network providing relevant award-winning news/sports/ag information & compelling audio content to 100+ radio stations in Minnesota

MinnesotaRadio
MinnesotaRadio avatar; Minnesota News Network @MinnesotaRadio ·
15 Sep 1702692643703070784

‘Minnesota Matters 9-15-23’ by Learfield News Ag is on #SoundCloud

Twitter feed video.
Reply on Twitter 1702692643703070784 Retweet on Twitter 1702692643703070784 0 Like on Twitter 1702692643703070784 1 Twitter 1702692643703070784
Retweet on Twitter Minnesota News Network Retweeted
TalkNorthPod avatar; Talk North @TalkNorthPod ·
13 Sep 1701928965232075185

The Go Gopher Podcast with Mike Grimm - Episode #87

With @dragan_serb8, who booted the game-winning kick to open the season!

BTYB:

@sunbeltmidwest
From Aquarius Home Services Studio
True North M&A
@InsureChamplin
@Affinity_Plus
@HeadFlyerBrew
@cubfoods

Reply on Twitter 1701928965232075185 Retweet on Twitter 1701928965232075185 2 Like on Twitter 1701928965232075185 3 Twitter 1701928965232075185
MinnesotaRadio avatar; Minnesota News Network @MinnesotaRadio ·
8 Sep 1700150244091019334

‘Minnesota Matters 9-8-23’ by Learfield News Ag is on #SoundCloud

Twitter feed video.
Reply on Twitter 1700150244091019334 Retweet on Twitter 1700150244091019334 0 Like on Twitter 1700150244091019334 3 Twitter 1700150244091019334
MinnesotaRadio avatar; Minnesota News Network @MinnesotaRadio ·
7 Sep 1699706755935072527

Canterbury Park has big day on Saturday

Image for twitter card

Canterbury Park has big day on Saturday - Minnesota News Network

Canterbury Park will celebrate the Minnesota breeding and horse racing industry on Saturday, Sept. 9 with the 30th ...

minnesotanewsnetwork.com

Reply on Twitter 1699706755935072527 Retweet on Twitter 1699706755935072527 2 Like on Twitter 1699706755935072527 6 Twitter 1699706755935072527
Load More

Vikes trade for RB Akers

(Eagan, MN) — The Minnesota Vikings announce the team has traded a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft in exchange for RB Cam Akers and a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The completion of this trade is pending Akers passing a physical. Akers, who is in his fourth season, joins […]

Twins place Correa on Injured List

The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have placed shortstop Carlos Correa on the 10-day Injured List with left foot plantar fasciitis (retroactive to September 19). Correa has played in a team-leading 135 games this season, hitting .230 (118-for-514) with 29 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs, 65 RBI, 60 runs scored, 59 walks, a […]

Gopher men’s basketball schedule released

The 2023-24 University of Minnesota men’s basketball schedule highlights 21 home games and 20 Big Ten contests during the 2023-24 season, announced today by the Big Ten office. Start times and network designations for all conference and nonconference games will be announced during the week of Sept. 25-29. The 129th season of Golden Gopher men’s […]

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Facebook

Copyright © 2023 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC