The Indians dealt a blow to the Twins’ postseason chances, as rookie right-hander Cody Anderson threw seven scoreless innings and was helped by a two-run homer from fellow rookie Francisco Lindor in a 10-2 win in the second game of a doubleheader on Wednesday at Progressive Field.
The Twins (82-76) split the twin bill, and trail Houston by 1 1/2 games in the chase for the second American League Wild Card spot with four games to play. They’re also a game back of the Angels. The Indians (78-79) were mathematically eliminated from the postseason after the Astros’ 7-6 win in Seattle.
“The positive is we didn’t get swept and the Angels didn’t win,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “You have to take out of it what you can get. The reality is the Angels finally had a hiccup. It had been awhile. It seems like it had been forever. I heard it was kind of a close call, but I tried not to look at the scoreboard too much. We got a win and we got a loss and we know the loss column is what matters come Sunday.”
Anderson stayed hot, picking up a win in his fifth straight start, including his second in a row over Minnesota. The right-hander scattered two hits and three walks. He is 5-0 with a 1.09 ERA over his last five outings, and ends his rookie season going 7-3 with a 3.05 ERA.
Twins right-hander Mike Pelfrey struggled, turning in the second-shortest outing of his career, lasting 1 2/3 innings, and allowing four runs on six hits and two walks. Pelfrey, a free agent after the season, finishes the year by going 6-11 with a 4.26 ERA.
Lindor paced the offense for the Indians with a two-run homer and two runs scored. Cleveland scored four in the second, one in the third and two more in the fourth on Lindor’s homer off lefty Brian Duensing. Jose Ramirez added a three-run blast off right-hander Ricky Nolasco in the eighth. The Twins didn’t score until the eighth on a solo shot from rookie Miguel Sano. It was Sano’s 18th of the year and his first since Sept. 19. Eddie Rosario hit a solo shot in the ninth to cap the scoring for Minnesota.
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