Indians’ Kluber has no-hitter through 6 innings

The Minnesota Twins were throttled by the Cleveland Indians 17-4 on Saturday night.

Santana allowed eight runs and 10 hits in a season-low 2 1-3 innings, propelling the Indians to a 17-4 rout of the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night.

CLEVELAND (AP) – The Cleveland Indians haven’t had much to smile about lately.

The Indians have scored 26 runs over two games since they traded Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn.

Sands, batting for Lonnie Chisenhall in the fifth, homered to right off Blaine Boyer. Three consecutive walks by Ryan O’Rourke had loaded the bases before Sands broke an 0-for-11 slump with his second career grand slam.

“That’s about as good a ball as I’ve seen hit to right field in a long time”, said Molitor. “I’m hoping for the latter”.

When Almonte was acquired from the San Diego Padres in exchange for relief pitcher Marc Rzepczynski, it wasn’t exactly a blockbuster deal. “If you can’t get excited about that….”

Rookie right-hander Shawn Armstrong, just recalled from Class AAA Columbus, made his big-league debut in the ninth inning. Finally, in the eighth inning, Almonte capped off his tribe debut with a two run home run to center field that would land in the Indians bullpen.

“It feels great”, Almonte said. “When you do that it’s really exciting”. Bauer allowed three home runs in his six and a third innings pitched. The Twins scored their fourth run in the sixth on a home run by left fielder Eddie Rosario.

Hunter promptly doubled in the top of the fifth inning and came around to score on a double by Aaron Hicks later in the inning, putting the Twins within one run of the Indians.

The Indians had said they were looking to give younger players some playing time in the final two months of this season.

Jose Ramirez, replacing the injured Jason Kipnis at second base, was 3 for 5 with a career-high three RBIs for the Indians.

Charged with eight earned runs after allowing 10 hits, Santana saw his career earned-run average jump to 6.62 at the place formerly known as The Jake. However, on July 27, 2011, as a member of the Angels, Santana pitched a no-hitter against the Indians in a 3-1 win at Progressive Field. INF Chris Johnson, acquired by the Indians from the Atlanta Braves in a trade on Friday, was in uniform for the first time on Saturday…. “Hopefully I can help out any way I can”.

Twins: OF Byron Buxton (left thumb sprain) reported no physical problems following the first game of his minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester.

Indians: RHP Cody Anderson was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained left oblique. He went 2-1 with a 0.89 ERA in his first four career starts, but is 0-2 with a 10.19 ERA in his last four outings. “But when we look at the numbers, he’s been a horse”, Twins manager Paul Molitor said of Corey Kluber, who takes his 6-12 record to the mound in the finale of this three-game set today.