Kluber clobbered as Twins beat Tribe again

Star pitcher gives up two home runs as Twins play nemesis

Corey Kluber had a rare rocky performance, lasting just five innings and losing for the first time in seven starts as Kyle Gibson outpitched the Cy Young winner and Brian Dozier hit a two-run homer to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 6-3 win over the Indians on June 15 at Progressive Field.

Kluber (10-3) allowed a homer on his fourth pitch of the game to Eddie Rosario and was pulled after throwing just 65 pitches by manager Terry Francona.

It was the shortest outing this season for the All-Star, who came in 5-0 with a 0.76 ERA against AL Central teams and was riding several other impressive streaks.

Gibson (2-4) limited the Indians to one run and three hits in seven innings and got his first win since his season debut on March 31.

Yan Gomes homered in the ninth and the Indians closed to 6-3 before closer Fernando

Rodney struck out Francisco Lindor with one on for his 15th save.

The Twins came into the series struggling at the plate and figured to have a tough time with Kluber, who has been as dominant this season as any stretch of his career and was seeking to become baseball’s first 11game winner.

Kluber, though, wasn’t Kluber.

With Joe Mauer returning from the disabled list after missing 25 games with a strained neck and concussion-like symptoms, Minnesota manager Paul Molitor dropped Dozier from the leadoff spot to No. 5 and the second baseman responded with his two-run homer in the fourth and three RBIs.

Lindor had two more errors, giving the Indians AllStar shortstop 10 this season, tying his total from 2017.

TONY DEJAK — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber waits for the Twins’ Brian Dozier to run the bases after Dozier hit a two-run home run during the fourth inning.