Sweep widens lead for Twins
TWINS 2-9, INDIANS 0-5
CLEVELAND — Miguel Sano’s grand slam capped a five-run eighth and the Twins grabbed firm control of the AL Central by beating the Indians 9-5, completing a sweep of Saturday’s day-night doubleheader.
The sweep pushed the Twins 51⁄ games ahead of 2 the Indians in the division.
Eddie Rosario hit a tworun homer while Nelson Cruz added a two-run blast, giving the Twins a total of 283 home runs this season.
The Twins used two bullpen games to complete the sweep. Five pitchers combined to stop the Indians 2-0 in the first game.
Four pitchers worked in the second game, with rookie right-hander Brusdar Graterol (1-0) going two scoreless innings for his first major-league win.
Rookie Oscar Mercado and Jordan Luplow homered in the second game as the Indians built a 5-2 lead.
Rosario homered for the Twins off opener Tyler Clippard in the nightcap, but the Indians quickly tied it on Carlos Santana’s RBI single and Luplow’s bases-loaded walk.
Cruz’s two-run homer off Carlos Carrasco in the sixth cut the lead to 5-4.
In the first game, Jorge Polanco hit a two-run homer off Mike Clevinger (11-3), who had won 10 consecutive decisions. Clevinger struck out 10 in eight innings but lost for the first time since June 28.
Polanco, the Twins’ shortstop, also cut off the Indians’ best scoring threat in Game 1 when he speared Santana’s line drive with the bases loaded to end the third.
The series wraps up Sunday when Jose Berrios faces Shane Bieber.