The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Salazar’s strong start is food for thought
Gomes homers as Indians force Twins to wait to clinch wild-card berth
The Minnesota Twins missed a chance to clinch a playoff spot on their own Sept. 27 as Danny Salazar gave Cleveland’s brain trust more to consider with a strong start and Yan Gomes homered, lifting the Indians to a 4-2 win.
Minnesota could still earn an AL wild-card spot and its
first postseason trip since 2010 if the Los Angeles Angels lose in Chicago to the White Sox.
The Indians improved to 30-3 since Aug. 24 and stayed one game ahead of Houston for the best record in the AL and home-field advantage until the World Series.
The turnaround Twins made it interesting in the ninth, pulling within 4-2 on Jorge Polanco’s two-run homer with one out. But closer Cody Allen stopped the comeback and Minnesota’s players hustled into the clubhouse to watch
the Angels.
Cleveland scored two runs off Adalberto Mejia (4-7), who hit Gomes with a pitch and the bases loaded in the fourth to force in a run. Gomes later connected for his 14th homer to make it 4-0.
Mike Clevinger (12-5) replaced Salazar in the fifth and got his first win in relief this season.
Salazar allowed one hit and struck out nine in 4 2/3 shutout innings of his last — and perhaps most important — start of the regular season. Manager
Terry Francona lifted the right-hander one out before he qualified for the win, a curious move because Salazar was dominating.
Salazar isn’t guaranteed a spot on Cleveland’s postseason roster, but he made any decision not to include him a little tougher. He’s had a disappointing season, which included a lengthy stint in the minors to work out some issues.
Clevinger will pitch out of the bullpen in October, and Francona may have wanted to get him into a situation like he might face in the playoffs.
Edwin Encarnacion picked up his 104th RBI in the first inning.