Twins 5, Indians 1
CLEVELAND -- Josh Willingham had a key two-run double in the seventh inning and right-hander Samuel Deduno pitched six strong innings as the Minnesota Twins beat the Cleveland Indians 5-1 Friday night.
Deduno (8-7) pitched six innings, holding Cleveland to one run on three hits to get the win. Deduno and two relievers combined on a six-hitter.
Cleveland starter Ubaldo Jimenez (9-8), who set a season-high with 10 strikeouts, gave up two runs in six innings and took the loss.
Leading 2-1 in the top of the seventh inning, the Twins had Brian Dozier at first base and two outs when Indians reliever Rich Hill fell behind Justin Morneau 3-0 and then intentionally walked him.
Reliever Cody Allen, a right-hander, came on to face right-handed hitting Willingham. Allen got ahead in the count at 1-2, but Willingham then drove a double over the head of right fielder Drew Stubbs. Dozier and Morneau both scored to give the Twins a 4-1 lead.
Minnesota added an insurance run off reliever Matt Albers in the eighth inning. Trevor Plouffe led off with Minnesota's sixth double of the game. A single by Clete Thomas moved Plouffe to third, and he scored when Wilkin Ramirez grounded into a double play.
The Indians mounted a threat in the sixth inning, when Deduno walked three, but Michael Bourn was thrown out trying to steal third base, short-circuiting that rally.
The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Bourn singled, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out single by Carlos Santana.
In the first, Jimenez loaded the bases with no outs and then struck out the side. In the second, however, he gave up doubles to three of the first five batters he faced. Thomas led off the inning with a double and then scored on a double by Pedro Florimon. Florimon scored on a two-out double by Chris Herrmann, giving Minnesota a 2-1 lead.
NOTES: Indians RHP Josh Tomlin will make two more minor league rehab starts and then could be activated when major league rosters are expanded in September. Tomlin has been on the disabled list all year as he recovers from Tommy John surgery last year. ... LHP Scott Kazmir's scheduled start on Saturday was pushed back to Sunday because Indians manager Terry Francona wanted to give him an extra day between starts. ... The Twins will recall RHP Liam Hendriks from Triple-A Rochester to start Saturday night's game. ... Morneau has 58 career RBIs at Progressive Field, his highest total for any opposing ballpark.
