CLEVELAND (AP) -- Chris Colabello drove in
four runs, Brian Dozier scored three times and the Minnesota Twins
outslugged the Cleveland Indians 10-7 on Sunday.
Colabello, who played seven seasons of
independent ball in Canada before signing with the Twins in 2012, broke a
6-6 tie with a three-run double in the sixth inning off Blake Wood
(0-1). The 30-year-old Colabello leads the AL with 11 RBIs after six
games.
Joe Mauer had three hits and scored
twice for the Twins, who took two of three in the series and will play
their home opener Monday against Oakland.
Anthony Swarzak (1-0) picked up the win in relief of Ricky Nolasco. Glen Perkins worked a perfect ninth for his second save.
David Murphy had four hits, Jason Kipnis had three RBIs and Yan Gomes hit a two-run homer for Cleveland.
Indians starter Justin Masterson didn't
get through four innings, but got his second straight no-decision. He
pitched seven shutout innings at Oakland on opening day.
After the Indians rallied from a 6-2
deficit and tied it on Murphy's RBI double in the fifth, the Twins
loaded the bases in the sixth when Wood walked Dozier, put Mauer on
intentionally and then hit Jason Bartlett. Colabello, who turned down a
$1 million offer this winter to play in Korea, then cleared the bags
with his double into the gap in left-center.
The Indians closed to 9-7 in the sixth on Michael Brantley's RBI single.
Minnesota tacked on a run in the ninth
as Aaron Hicks hit a sacrifice fly. The Indians challenged whether
Trevor Plouffe touched the plate, and after a 66-second delay, the
replay review confirmed the call.
Masterson lasted only 3 2-3 innings,
allowing five runs and seven hits. He walked three, hit two and needed
97 pitches to get 11 outs. It wasn't the type of performance the Indians
are accustomed to from their No. 1 starter, who couldn't reach
agreement on a long-term contract during talks with the club during
spring training.
Trailing 6-2 in the fourth, the Indians got a three-run double from Jason Kipnis in the fourth and then tied it the fifth.
Lonnie Chisenhall doubled and Murphy
dropped his one-out double down the left-field line, just out of the
reach of a diving Bartlett, playing in the outfield for just the second
time as a pro. Bartlett had been brought in after Josh Willingham was
hit in the wrist by Masterson in the first.
Bartlett had rough day all around. He
misplayed the carom off the angled outfield wall on Kipnis' double,
couldn't handle a sinking liner to left-center and was hit by a pitch.
The Twins scored three runs to open a
5-2 lead in the third, helped by Masterson's inability to find the
strike zone and a throwing error by catcher Gomes.
Minnesota went up 6-2 in the fourth on Colabello's RBI single.
NOTES:
Twins manager Ron Gardenire received dozens of text messages after
getting his 1,000th career win on Saturday. Former players such as Joe
Nathan, Torii Hunter and Jim Thome all checked in, but Gardenhire joked
he was disappointed not to hear from the First Fan. "The President
didn't call," he said. "But I know Mr. Obama is a White Sox fan." ...
X-rays on Willingham's wrist were negative. He was replaced in left
field by Bartlett after being hit. ... Twins OF Oswaldo Arcia missed his
second straight game with a sore wrist. Gardenhire said Arcia will be
checked Monday and if he's not better by Wednesday "we'll have to make a
decision."
