Sloppy Play Costs Kazmir, Indians Fall To Twins 3-2

The Cleveland Indians opened the 2nd half of the season playing a sloppy game falling to the Minnesota Twins by a final score of 3-2. The Indians (51-45) do not lose any ground to the Detroit Tigers who were shut out by the Kansas Royals by a final score of 1-0.

Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Scott Kazmir deserved better working 6 innings allowing just 2R/0ER on 2 hits striking out 3 and walking 3.

Joe Smith (4-1, 2.92 ERA) came in to replace Cody Allen who worked a scoreless 8th and took the loss for the Indians.

Mike Pelfrey pitched well for the Twins allowing 5.2 innings allowing 2R/ER on 4 hits while striking out 6 and walking 3.

The Twins bullpen has the 5th lowest ERA in the Amercian League at 3.18 and improved on that number by holding the Indians scoreless over the final 3.1 innings while holding the Tribe offense hitless as well.

Casey Fien (2-2, 2.95 ERA) worked a scoreless 8th to pick up the victory and Glen Perkins earned his 22nd save on the year.

The Indians jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the 3rd inning. Lonnie Chisenhall opened the inning with a double and Drew Stubbs reached after being hit by a pitch with 1-out. Micheal Bourn followed with a double that scored both Chisenhall and Stubbs.

The Twins came back to tie the game in the bottom of the 6th when the Twins staged a 2-out rally. With 2-out and nobody on base Kazmir issued a walk to Pedro Florimon but got Brian Dozier to send a ground ball to Lonnie Chisenhall who was unable to handle it cleanly. The ball ricochet off Chisenhall’s body and was retrieved by Asdrubal Cabrera who threw to third to try and nail the advancing Florimon but his throw was wild which allowed Dozier to move into scoring position. Trevor Plouffe made the Indians pay for their fielding miscue by sending a single into right field scoring both Florimon and Dozier to tie the game.

Joe Smith came in to work the bottom of the 8th and issued a leadoff walk to Pedro Florimon. Brian Dozier laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Florimon to 2nd but Nick Swisher dropped the throw at first to allow Dozier to reach. Smith got the all important double play ball off the bat of Trevor Plouffe to get within 1-out of escaping the jam.

As has been the story for the Indians pitching staff this season the inability to get the 3rd out cost them as Joe Mauer delivered a RBI single to score Florimon and give the Twins a 3-2 lead.

Glen Perkins came in to work the 9th inning and was helped by his defense as Pedro Florimon made a diving grab of a

soft liner for the first out before getting

to line out to 2nd and striking out pinch hitter

to end the game.

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Notes:

Cleveland’s pitching staff as a whole has not  allowed a home run in 69.0 consecutive innings.