Cleveland, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Getaway day got away from the Tribe in a hurry.
The final game of the homestand really couldn’t have started on a worse note for the Indians. Minnesota opened the game with back-to-back home runs from Byron Buxton and Josh Donaldson, followed by a walk to Nelson Cruz and a 2-run homer for Jorge Polanco. After winning the first two games of the series thanks to some timely home runs, Cleveland was historically snake-bitten by Minnesota home runs as the Twins took the series finale 10-2 at Progressive Field.
In total, the Twins cracked six home runs for the game. The Tribe hadn’t allowed at least six home runs in a game since August 1, 2003 when they gave up seven dingers to the Texas Rangers on the road. They had never previously given up that many home runs in a home game in Progressive Field history. Last time it happened in Cleveland, Oakland hit seven home runs in the second game of a double-header at Municipal Stadium on July 6, 1990.
Logan Allen had a tough afternoon. He lasted just 1 1/3 innings, allowing six earned runs on five hits with a walk and a strikeout. He threw 52 pitches and only 26 strikes to 10 batters before he was taken out of the game.
Byron Buxton had a great afternoon for the Twins, finishing the day with a career-high five hits. He had a homer, two doubles, two singles and a stolen base as part of a 5-for-5 afternoon. His batting average jumped 48 points to a ridiculous .438 now for the season, which is now the best average in the big leagues.
Amed Rosario was the lone Indian who had a good day at the plate. He snapped an 0-for-14 stretch with his second home run of the season. His 1-out shot in the second inning made it a 6-1 game at the time. He also doubled in the fifth.
Outside of Rosario’s two hits, the rest of the team went 3-for-30.
Sam Hentges was the third pitcher of the day for Cleveland and really helped eat some innings in the middle of the game.
Even though the team has an off day tomorrow, it was nice to not have to burn through the entire bullpen after Allen only recorded four outs. Hentges threw 53 pitches in relief and got through three innings.
Notables
Byron Buxton hit his third career leadoff homer today and it was the first one allowed by Cleveland this year.
Josh Donaldson followed Buxton by homering halfway up the bleachers in left field. It marked the second time this year that the Indians have allowed back-to-back home runs. Minnesota hit consecutive homers to start a game for the first time since September 4th last season when Polanco and Donaldson did that to the Tigers.
Meanwhile, the Indians hadn’t allowed three home runs in any inning of a game since Cody Anderson surrendered three bombs to the New York Mets in the fifth frame on April 15, 2016. It had been even longer since the team had allowed three first inning homers, dating back to a game against Toronto on May 1, 2007.
Today’s game marked the first time the Indians have allowed back-to-back homers to start a game since Nick Senzel and Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds opened the game on June 12, 2019 with a pair of solo shots.
Mitch Garver hit his third and fourth home runs of the year this afternoon. It marked the sixth time in his career that he’s had a multi-homer game. The most recent one came for him at Target Field against the Indians on September 7, 2019.
Transactions
Before today’s game, the Indians activated RHP Nick Wittgren off the Paternity List and designated LHP Oliver Perez for assignment. Perez has pitched in Cleveland for four seasons. The 19-year pro has had the longest Major League career of any Mexican-born player in league history. Wittgren threw a scoreless inning of relief today in his return to the team.
Up Next
The Indians wrap up the homestand with a 3-5 record and 1 postponed game. They’ll have the day off tomorrow (Thursday) before opening a road series in Chicago against the White Sox. The Indians split their 4-game series with the White Sox two weeks ago, during which they were no-hit by Carlos Rodon. After playing the White Sox for three games, the Indians travel to Kansas City for their first series this year with the AL Central-leading Royals.
