Santana’s homer helps Tribe avoid series sweep

Indians 4, Twins 3

CLEVELAND — There's a common thought that the Home Run Derby can affect a hitter's swing, though there isn't much evidence to support that theory.

And the Indians must be relieved there isn't. Carlos Santana's home run in the seventh inning lifted the Tribe to a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday to avoid a sweep at Progressive Field. The victory also pulled the Indians to within 6½ games of the

Twins in the American League Central Division race, avoiding a worst-case scenario had they been swept.

“This game is a frustrating one and (you) can never expect certain things, but with him it’s hard not to. He’s Mr. Consistent,” Indians starting pitcher Shane Bieber said.

“He’s done an unbelievable job all year, coming up big for us time and time again.”

The Twins stormed back from a three-run deficit with a three-run seventh inning to tie it. Santana, who competed in the Home Run Derby on Monday, put the Indians back on top in the bottom half of the inning by blasting a solo home run to right field off Twins reliever Trevor May. It was his second home run of the series and 21st of the

season.

“The guy had been really tough on him, too, that’s why he’s in there,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “It’s nice for us to get punched in the stomach and come right back. That was a good ending, too. That would’ve been a tough day.”

Indians reliever Adam Cimber escaped trouble in the eighth. Luis Arraez doubled and advanced to third on a lineout to center

field. With two outs and the potential tying run on third, Cimber struck out Miguel Sano and spun off the mound to an ovation.

Brad Hand put the game away with a strikeout of Jorge Polanco for his 24th save of the season.

Bieber cruised through the first six innings but ran into trouble in the seventh with the Indians leading 3-0.

After a walk to lead off the inning, Mitch

Garver was ruled to have been hit by a pitch on a ball that seemingly hit off the knob of his bat. The Indians challenged the play, but the call on the field was confirmed.

Marwin Gonzalez followed with a single to right field to cut the Indians’ lead to 3-1. Sano then singled to left, loading the bases with nobody out. Bieber threw a pitch inside to Jake Cave, and the Twins challenged it, saying it hit Cave.

This time, the call was overturned, and the Twins had cut the lead to 3-2.

Bieber struck out Jonathan Schoop for the first out, but his day came to an end and Oliver Perez came on to face left-handed Max Kepler, who tied the score with a bloop single to center field.

Perez recovered to strike out Polanco.

Cimber entered the game and struck out Nelson Cruz, preserving the tie.