Twins solve Salazar, pick up big series-opening victory over Cleveland

One pitch changed the course of the game Tuesday at the start of a critical series between Cleveland and Minnesota. Salazar had one of his best starts the last time he faced Minnesota on May 10, allowing one run and one hit while matching a season high with 11 strikeouts in seven frames.Santana is in a groove at the moment and is 3-0 with a total of five runs allowed in 29 innings over his last four starts. “We worked on it and worked on, and now we’ve had good results”. After losing five in a row the Twins have won consecutive contests following Tuesday’s win that featured a great performance on the hill by Ervin Santana.

Joe Mauer extended his streak of reaching base to 41 games with an RBI double to score Dozier.

It’s unclear if Francona will take the same approach again since Cleveland (74-75) enters Wednesday 4 1/2 games back of Houston – which hosts the Los Angeles Angels earlier in the day – for the league’s second wild-card spot.

On Hicks’ triple to the left-center-field gap, Indians left fielder Michael Brantley appeared to make a sensational diving catch.

The loss for Cleveland means the Indians have alternated wins and losses over their last 10 games and have struggled to find consistency in late September as their wild card hopes continue to fade. However, after he hit the ground, the ball bounced out of his glove, allowing Hicks to cruise into third.

“You’re running around the bases thinking you got a hit”, Hicks said.

Brantley stayed in the game briefly, hit in the top of the fourth inning but was replaced by Martinez in the bottom of the inning because of a shoulder injury.

Three batters later, Salazar had given up three runs, which was all the Twins needed against the right-hander.

The Indians lone run of the game came in the fifth inning.

Cleveland Indians pitcher Danny Salazar gives up a walk to… Catcher Yan Gomes hit a leadoff double, advanced to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on an infield single by third baseman Jose Ramirez. All the teams are chasing the Houston Astros, who are in a battle of their own with the Texas Rangers for the American League West division title. The Twins recalled OF Max Kepler from Double-A Chattanooga. Salazar’s record falls to 13-9 on the season.

Minnesota has Phil Hughes (10-9, 4.58) back in the rotation after Tommy Milone was ruled out with a “tired shoulder”, according to manager Paul Molitor.