Recap: Cleveland vs. Minnesota
Sports Network | September 15, 2008
Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Scott Lewis threw six shutout innings, and Shin-Soo Choo slammed a two-run home run, as the Cleveland Indians topped Minnesota, 3-1, in the first of three games with the Twins.
Lewis (2-0) made his second career start and has still not allowed a run. The rookie tossed eight scoreless innings on September 10 against Baltimore, and on Monday gave up just three hits and two walks, with five strikeouts.
Choo finished with two hits, and Kelly Shoppach added a solo shot for the Indians, who had lost three in a row. Rafael Betancourt and Rafael Perez each threw a scoreless inning of relief, while Jensen Lewis gave up a homer but managed to notch his ninth save of the season.
Kevin Slowey (12-10) took the loss after surrendering three runs on seven hits in six frames. The Twins remained 1 1/2 games behind the White Sox in the AL Central, after Chicago lost to the Yankees on Monday.
Delmon Young had three hits, while Joe Mauer hit a solo homer for Minnesota, which has dropped two in a row.
Shoppach's solo blast, his 21st homer of the season, gave Cleveland a 1-0 lead in the fourth. In the next frame, Grady Sizemore singled with one out and after a fly out, stole second. Choo then got inside a fastball from Slowey and ripped it into the right field stands.
Young doubled with two outs in the second, but was stranded there after Scott Lewis fanned Brendan Harris. Nick Punto then led off the third with a two-base hit, but three straight outs ended the threat.
The Twins didn't threaten much from there, until Mauer homered off Jensen Lewis with one away in the ninth. But Justin Morneau grounded out, and pinch- hitter Jason Kubel struck out to end the game.
Cleveland Indians second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera and Minnesota Twins outfielder Carlos Gomez were named the American League Co-Players of the Week for the period ending September 14...The Indians stranded six runners, while the Twins, who had just five hits, left four on base.
