Nick Blackburn reaches double digits as Minnesota Twins crush the Indians, 5 – 1 (Part 2)
The Minnesota Twins were entering the game following a robust celebration concerning their title clinch in their 162nd game in Target Field, against the visiting, Cleveland Indians. The hosts were already 2 – 0 up in
the series and yesterday presented the chance to usurp their travelling opponents with a 3-game clean sweep. For the ‘Tribe’, the game meant more than pride to struggle for. The Wahoos were looking for a much needed win as they were trying to climb the Central
Division table for a better ranking in the division.
The Indians were the first ones to get themselves on the score board and it all began in the first inning as Shelley Duncan became the responsible hitter to get the team to its first and only run of the match. Cleveland started
the game with the hitters on the plate and Michael Brantley walked in to greet Nick Blackburn, who was pitching for the Minnesota side, last night. After ineffective stare downs, the first man hitter struck out, looking. Drew Sutton came in next and Nick took
no risk with the clever player as he walked him to the first. Shin Choo followed on to the bag but he flied out to the left.
Travis Hafner walked in on the 4th number and he made a difference with a single to the right, getting Sutton to second base. All it took then was for Duncan to come in and smash a single to the centre. That hit got
Drew through for the first run in the fixture. Cleveland had started ambitiously and Minnesota felt a hard knock on their mood as they got pulled into the contest. Things remained quiet for the next 5 innings until the bottom 6th
inning came when the Twins hit the strike zone with hitters on the plate.
Alexi Casilla was the first player to start off in the innings with a single to the shallow right. Jason Kubel then followed in but struck out to Carlos Carrasco while looking. Danny Valencia then came in to bat and while Carlos
focused on the hitter, standing on the hitting pad, Casilla made a run for the second base, stealing the plate under the pitcher’s eyes. Valencia then went out swinging as the Indian ace man struck him out cleanly.
However, that marked the last time Carrasco produced a good record in the match as the Twins turned the s***w on the Wahoos. Jose Morales walked in and made an immediate impact on the game when he pulled a strong double down the
deep centre, getting Casilla through for the first club run in the night. With the game tied on 1 – 1, Matt Tolbert went to the batting plate to face the nervy Cleveland pitcher. What followed wasn’t surprising as Tolbert converted a double to the deep right
for a Morales run to the dugout. Tolbert got through for the third run, following the second for team when Ben Revere singled to the centre.
The sides were now very far apart and Indians were on the back foot, chasing the Twins 1 – 3. However, the lead went up again in the bottom 7th as Minnesota made a move for 2 additional runs. Casilla was instrumental
again as he led a single to the right. Kubel then came in to single to the centre and lead the other hitter to the second base. He was replaced by Trevor Plouffe to run as the new man joined Casilla on the diamond.
With Valencia grounding out to second, Morales walked onto the hitters’ plate and struck a single to the right, which led to runs from both Plouffe and Casilla. The hit highlighted the game as no more runs came forth in the following
innings and the Twins ended the night with a 5 – 1 score line over the Indians.
Manager, Ron Gardenhire commented on the game with the following words at the end of the bout, “With home field advantage still at stake, these guys are going to play. It doesn't matter who I put out there, you're going to get
a great effort. That's the way is around here. I expect that of all of them and I think they expect that of themselves."
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