Indians’ offensive troubles continue
Miguel Sano hit a two-run homer and Nelson Cruz connected for a solo shot to lead the injury-riddled Minnesota Twins to a 3-2 win over the host Cleveland Indians on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series between the American League Central’s top teams.
Sano homered in the sixth inning off Aaron Civale (3-3).
The Twins, who have several regulars and two starting pitchers on the injured list, took a 2½-game lead on the Indians.
Kenta Maeda (4-0) gave up a leadoff homer in the first to Cesar Hernandez and then dodged trouble for the next four before turning it over to the bullpen.
Carlos Santana’s two-out RBI single in the seventh off Trevor May cut the Twins lead to lead to 3-2. But the right-hander shook it off and struck out slugger Franmil Reyes with runners at the corners to end the threat.
Taylor Rogers worked the ninth for his seventh save.
Cleveland’s offensive woes continue. The Indians have scored two runs or fewer in 14 games. They went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 runners.
“We gotta start stringing hits together,” said Sandy Alomar Jr., who filled in again for manager Terry Francona. “We’re not doing that. That’s the ballgame right there.”
Francona, who underwent surgery on a gastrointestinal condition last week, has missed 15 of the club’s 29 games.
BREWERS 4, REDS 2: Justin Smoak homered and drove in three runs as Milwaukee cooled off Trevor Bauer and snapped a four-game skid with a victory over Cincinnati on Monday night.
Omar Narvaez added a solo shot to help the Brewers win their opener of a 10-game homestand.
Bauer (3-1) began the game with an 0.68 ERA that led the majors, but fell behind 4-0 in the first four innings as the Brewers reversed their seasonlong trend of slow starts.
He ended up striking out seven and allowing seven hits, four runs and two walks in 6 1/3 innings.
Brewers starter Brett Anderson (2-2) held the Reds scoreless for the first five innings before allowing leadoff homers to Curt Casali in the sixth and Eugenio Suarez in the seventh. Anderson allowed five hits and one walk with three strikeouts.
Devin Williams, David Phelps and Josh Hader held the Reds hitless the rest of the way.
Pujols moves up RBI list
Los Angeles Angels star Albert Pujols continued his climb up the career charts Monday night, passing Alex Rodriguez for third place with his 2,087th RBI.
Hank Aaron is No. 1 at 2,297. Babe Ruth is next on some lists with 2,214, even though 224 occurred before the RBI became an official statistic in 1920.
“Definitely it’s an honor,” Pujols said after an 11-4 loss to the Houston Astros.
Pujols, 40, hit an RBI single in the fifth inning to top Rodriguez.