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CLEVELAND (AP) — The Twins weren’t too drained to run across the bases.
Max Kepler and rookie Alex Kirilloff drove in two runs apiece in Minnesota’s nine-run fourth inning and the Twins shook off a pair lengthy days of cross-country journey by pounding the Cleveland Indians 10-0 on Friday night time.
After flying from Minnesota to California and taking part in a doubleheader on Thursday, the Twins took a red-eye flight and didn’t arrive in Cleveland till 4:30 a.m. Friday. However they didn’t present any indicators of fatigue and appeared unsleeping in profitable the sequence opener.
“I assume they bought a superb day’s sleep,” cracked starter Randy Dobnak, who flew in a day sooner than his teammates. “I didn’t discover anyone being tremendous drained.”
Dobnak (1-3) was the beneficiary of the Twins’ greatest inning this season and received his first begin after being recalled from Triple-A St. Paul. The appropriate-hander started the season in Minnesota’s bullpen earlier than being demoted on Could 3.
Dobnak, who labored as an Uber driver earlier than making it to the massive leagues in 2019, allowed simply three hits in six innings.
Rob Refsnyder homered for Minnesota’s first run — after which the Twins poured it on within the fourth.
Triston McKenzie (1-3) helped the weary Twins with 4 walks within the inning earlier than he was mercifully pulled by Indians supervisor Terry Francona. Reliever Phil Maton, nonetheless, wasn’t a lot better as Kepler hit a two-run double and Kirilloff, who got here off the injured checklist earlier within the day, singled residence a pair as Minnesota opened a 10-run lead.
The Indians additionally dedicated their first error since Could 12 — a span of 9 video games — to assist the Twins within the fourth.
The night time started on an ominous observe for the Twins, who’ve been coping with accidents all season. Designated hitter Nelson Cruz was scratched with a bruised wrist, forcing supervisor Rocco Baldelli to rearrange his beginning lineup.
The one he got here up with labored out simply advantageous.
“It was simply the sort of effort you’re at all times trying to have and these kinds of video games by no means get outdated,” Baldelli mentioned. “This was a troublesome day. This isn’t a simple set of journey circumstances, lack of sleep proper in the course of an extended stretch of video games and the fellows got here out with a superb plan and so they have been bombing tonight.
“The boys put some good swings on the ball.”
McKenzie’s continued issues together with his management have gotten a priority for the Indians. The appropriate-hander has has walked 30 in 31 1/3 innings and he has but to pitch greater than 5 innings.
“I really feel prefer it’s been sort of a standard theme in all my begins, the walks,” McKenzie mentioned. “I really feel like we labored on some supply stuff main as much as this begin, in between my earlier begins, simply making an attempt to ensure every little thing stays constant as soon as I get on the market.
“I really feel like now it simply comes all the way down to a mindset factor and ensuring I’m within the zone.”
SPECIAL Ok
Like one of many hitters he overpowers, Indians reliever James Karinchak has blown away Francona together with his fast growth.
The 25-year-old right-hander entered the sequence with a 0.47 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings.
“He has been a weapon,” Francona mentioned. “My goodness. His numbers are foolish and we in all probability nitpick a lot, and we fear when he goes 3-2 on lots of people. However there’s not a whole lot of walks and there’s definitely not a whole lot of hits.
“I do know the board will say 96-97 (mph), however I believe it profiles higher than that and his breaking ball is filthy. And he competes like loopy. He’s enjoyable to look at, man.”
DECENT DEBUT
One vibrant spot for the Indians was rookie J.C. Mejia, who made his main league debut and struck out 5 in 2 1/3 innings.
“He got here in and threw strikes and he’s bought actually good two-seam motion and he can spin a breaking ball off of it,” Francona mentioned. “In a child’s first outing you’re by no means fairly positive what the nerves might be. However he got here in and threw strikes and with that motion, it provides him an opportunity. That was enjoyable to look at.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Indians: OF Jordan Luplow was again within the lineup after lacking two video games with a sprained left ankle. He went 0 for 4.
UP NEXT
Indians ace Shane Bieber (4-3) went simply 4 2/3 innings in his final begin. He’ll face Twins RHP Kenta Maeda (2-2), who pitched by way of groin soreness on Sunday towards Oakland.
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