Lindor, Bieber lead Indians past Twins 5-2

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Indians reminded everyone that they’re the three-time defending American League Central Champions on Tuesday night. Cleveland hit four home runs en route to a 5-2 victory at Progressive Field.

The Indians are no longer the favorites in the division. Minnesota has burst onto the scene in 2019. They're one of the best hitting teams in baseball. The Indians have struggled to produce runs consistently, which is a big reason why they’re treading water in the division.

Shane Bieber pitched a gem for the Tribe. He lasted seven innings, allowing two runs and five hits. He gave up two home runs, but was able to keep a great lineup in check for most of the night. Bieber walked one and struck out seven. 

Francisco Lindor came up big for the Indians, hitting two homers, including a two-run shot in the fifth that gave them a 3-1 lead. He also doubled, raising his average to .306 on the season.

Two hands.... again pic.twitter.com/IpIUHZPQlU

"When you’re playing a team that’s ahead of you, you guarantee that if you beat them, they lose,” manager Terry Francona said before the game. “There’s a way to go about it. We understand where they are in the standings. We’re not completely crazy. But there’s a way to go about it. That’s trying to win the game tonight.”

It’s a big win for the Indians, who had lost 10 of their last 14 games. They improve to 30-30 on the season. They still trail Minnesota by 10.5 games in the division. They’re 2-2 against the Twins this season.

Back-to-Back – Roberto Perez and Jake Bauers hit back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning to give the Indians a 5-2 lead. Perez has eight homers on the season. Bauers has had his struggles at the plate recently, but his sixth home run of the year was a big one for the Indians.

Back to back like I'm on the cover of Lethal Weapon. --#RallyTogether pic.twitter.com/9DjAxQkh9a

Impressive Pen – The Indians’ bullpen rose to the occasion, getting the final six outs of the game. First, Oliver Perez came on in the eighth inning after Byron Buxton reached on an error. Perez responded with three straight strikeouts to prevent the Twins from bringing the tying run to the plate. Perez has only allowed a run in one of his last 17 appearances and has 19 strikeouts over that span.

Brad Hand entered the game in the ninth. The Indians’ closer was born in Minneapolis and he handled business against his hometown team, picking up his 17th save of the year. He's allowed one run since April 15. 

Injury Update – Mike Clevinger will make his first rehab start for Triple-A Columbus on Thursday. Clevinger, 28, hasn’t pitched since April 7 due to a Teres major muscle strain in his back.

Up Next – Carlos Carrasco looks to bounce back on Wednesday after a rough stretch for the Tribe. He enters with a 4-6 record on the season and a 4.98 ERA. Martin Perez will get the start for the Twins. He’s 7-2 on the season with a 3.71 ERA.