Twins Vs. Indians Final Score: Minnesota Falters In Extra Innings, Loses 4-3

The Minnesota Twins couldn't quite pull off the sweep of the Cleveland Indians on Thursday. They lost, 4-3, in extra innings thanks to a Shin-Soo Choo double to start the bottom of the 10th inning. Anthony Swarzak started the tenth and immediately gave up a double to Choo. Jason Kipnis then ground out to first, which advanced Choo to third. Carlos Santana and Michael Brantley were then intentionally walked, and Casey Kotchman came through with a single to centerfield that scored Choo and ended the game.

That was Choo's only at-bat of the game as he was held out of the lineup. He was pinch hitting for Vinny Rottino, who had four at-bats and didn't manage to reach base once. Kotchman had already had two hits on the day and an RBI prior to his game-clinching single.

Swarzak was given the loss, while Esmil Rogers picked up the win for the Indians. Nobody had a miraculous day for the Twins, as Trevor Plouffe did the best, with two hits and an RBI. Minnesota has now dropped six of their last nine games, but they're firmly out of the playoff race at this point anyway. Up next, they've got a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers.

For more on the Minnesota Twins, check out Twinkie Town. You can also head over to SB Nation's main MLB hub at Baseball Nation.

Darin Mastroianni Injury: Fractured Finger Ends Season At Plate

Minnesota Twins outfielder Darin Mastroianni has a fractured finger and won't be able to bat for the the rest of the baseball season, as X-rays taken Wednesday revealed the injury on his left hand. But it appears that the Twins like what they've seen from the outfielder enough for him to be part of their 2013 mix.

Mastroianni was injured sliding into home plate Tuesday night in a 6-5 extra-inning win over the Cleveland Indians. A guy known for his speed, at least his legs weren't affected. He will be available as a pinch runner.

Said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire:

"He's a pinch-runner, probably, the rest of the way -- unless miraculously he comes around... But they said this thing takes a while before it heals."

Mastroianni has played in 75 games this season since being called up from the minors. He's batting .252 with 21 stolen bases and 17 RBI.

Head over to Twinkie Town for more Twins coverage. Also be sure to visit Baseball Nation for even more news and analysis from around the league.

Josh Willingham Became First Twin To Hit 35 Home Runs Since 1970

Twins Vs. Indians: Minnesota Looks to Finish Three-Game Sweep of Tribe

The Minnesota Twins will attempt to finish a three-game sweep of the Indians in a Thursday matinee. The Twins followed up their 6-5 Tuesday victory with a 6-4 win Wednesday. A victory Thursday afternoon would finish Minnesota's first sweep since July 29, when -- not coincidentally -- the Twins won their third in a row over the Tribe.

Minnesota turns to the Esmerling Vasquez, who is 0-2 in three starts since being called up from AAA Rochester at the beginning of September. Vasquez carries a 7.53 ERA into the contest, and has not made it to the seventh inning of any of his prior starts. In his one appearance against Cleveland this season, he gave up 4 earned runs and walked 5 in just 3 innings of work.

Cleveland looks to rookie pitcher Corey Kluber. The right-handed Kluber is 1-4 in nine starts since joining the big league club in early August. In his last two starts, Kluber has given up 9 runs in just 8 2/3 innings, increasing his ERA to 5.48 on the season. He has faced the Twins twice, not figuring in either decision. Minnesota roughed Kluber up on September 9, scoring 5 runs on 8 hits in just 3 2/3 innings.

First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. ET. Television coverage is available on Fox Sports North. Radio broadcast is available on ESPN Radio 1500.

Check out Let's Go Tribe for more on the Indians, and head over to Twinkie Town for more Twins coverage. Also be sure to visit Baseball Nation for even more news and analysis from around the league.

Joe Mauer Stymied By Umpires In Quest For AL Batting Title

Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer has quietly clawed his way back into the AL batting title race, but he didn't get any favors from the umpires during Wednesday's 6-4 win against the Cleveland Indians. Third-base umpire Mike Muchlinski initially called Mauer's eighth-inning line drive to left field a hit, but when Indians manager Manny Acta came out to argue the call on a close play, Muchinski changed his call to take the hit away from Mauer and the inning ended on an out instead.

The race for the highest batting average may not be as exciting in the sabermetric era, when it's all about on-base and slugging percentages, but the top mark would still be seen as a big accomplishment considering that Mauer (.324) is chasing AL MVP hopefuls Mike Trout (.327) and Miguel Cabrera (.333).

Mauer doesn't have much time left to make up the margin, so the call to take away a hit on Wednesday night stings a bit more. He has paced the A.L. in batting average three times during his career: in 2006 he hit .347, in 2008 he hit .328 and in 2009 he hit .365 for the year.

For more on the Twins, check out Twinkie Town or stick with SB Nation Minnesota. For more news, notes and analysis from around MLB, head over to Baseball Nation.

Indians Vs. Twins Final Score: Minnesota Rides Fifth-Inning Rally to 6-4 Win

The Minnesota Twins defeated Cleveland 6-4 Wednesday night, taking their second straight game against the Indians and setting up a shot at a three-game sweep Thursday. The Twins took a commanding lead in the fifth inning, when a two-run home run by Josh Willingham broke a 2-2 tie. Chris Herrmann's groundout brought home another run, giving the Twins a 5-2 lead. Willingham drove home another run with a single in the sixth, extending the lead to 6-2. The Indians tacked on two runs in the bottom of the eighth, but it was not enough. Minnesota closer Glen Perkins slammed the door shut in the ninth for his 13th save of the season.

Twins starter Liam Hendriks received his first win of the season, going six innings and allowing just two earned runs on two hits with two strikeouts, improving his record to 1-7. Indians starter Zach McAllister took the loss, dropping to 5-8 after allowing four earned runs in just 4⅓ innings.

The two squads return to action Thursday for the final game of this week's three-game series.

Go to Twinkie Town for more Twins coverage, and Let's Go Tribe for more on the Indians. Also be sure to visit Baseball Nation for even more news and analysis from around the league.

Twins Vs. Indians Lineups: Minnesota's Liam Hendriks Searching For 1st Victory Of 2012

Aiming to take the second game of the series, the Minnesota Twins will send winless right-hander Liam Hendriks to the mound on Wednesday night to face the Indians at Progressive Field.

Hendriks currently sports a woeful 0-7 record with a 6.14 earned-run average over 13 starts this season, and has served up 25 hits to opposing batters over his last 13 and 2/3 innings pitched.

The Twins used a clutch two-run 12th inning on Tuesday to open the series on the right note, in a game where Minnesota batters also racked up a whopping 16 hits. Ron Gardenhire's team will hope to get the better of Cleveland right-hander Zach McAllister (5-7, 4.15 ERA) in Game 2 of the series.

Here are Wednesday's lineups:

Twins
1. Denard Span - CF
2. Jamey Carroll - 2B
3. Joe Mauer - DH
4. Josh Willingham - LF
5. Justin Morneau - 1B
6. Chris Parmelee - RF
7. Trevor Plouffe - 3B
8. Chris Herrmann - C
9. Pedro Florimon - SS
Liam Hendriks - SP

Indians
1. Shin-Soo Choo - RF
2. Jason Kipnis - 2B
3. Asdrubal Cabrera - SS
4. Carlos Santana - C
5. Michael Brantley - CF
6. Travis Hafner - DH
7. Russ Canzler - 1B
8. Lonnie Chisenhall - 3B
9. Vinny Rottino - LF
Zach McAllister - SP

Head over to Twinkie Town for more Twins coverage, and check out Let's Go Tribe for more on the Indians. Also be sure to visit Baseball Nation for even more news and analysis from around the league.

Trevor Plouffe Injury: X-Rays Not Needed After Tuesday Win

Minnesota Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe left Tuesday's game with a hand injury, but X-rays were not needed, according to Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune.

Plouffe took a line drive off his bare throwing hand while trying to field a ball in the sixth inning Tuesday against the Cleveland Indians. Plouffe stayed in the game but was lifted for a pinch runner after grounding into a fielder's choice in the eighth inning.

Plouffe was once seen as a utility player but has been used as the Twins' everyday third baseman since the beginning of June with an occasional spot start elsewhere (he has played all positions at least once this year except for pitcher, catcher and center field). Since the beginning of June, Plouffe has 18 home runs and is batting .256/.314/.498 in 312 plate appearances.

The Twins play the second of three games against the Indians on Wednesday at 6:05 p.m. CT.

Head over to Twinkie Town for more Minnesota Twins coverage and Let's Go Tribe for some more info on the Indians. Check out Baseball Nation for even more news from around the league.

Twins Vs. Indians Preview: Game Info, TV Time And More

Minnesota Twins pitcher Liam Hendriks goes to the mound Wednesday against the Cleveland Indians.

The Twins have not fared generally well in Hendriks' 17 career starts, 13 of which have come this season. He hasn't held up his end of the bargain particularly well, because he has a 6.15 ERA in 89 1/3 innings in those 17 starts (and a 6.14 ERA in 66 innings in 2012).

But the Twins haven't helped him much, either. The Twins are 5-12 in games Hendriks has started in his career, and six of those losses were by one run.

Zach McAllister will pitch for Cleveland. McAllister, who has a 4.15 ERA through 108 1/3 innings this season, threw what might have been his best start of the season in his last time out. On Thursday against the Texas Rangers, McAllister pitched six inning and gave up one earned run off eight hits with six strikeouts and no walks. The Indians won that game 5-4.

First pitch between the Twins and the Indians is set for 6:05 p.m. CT. The game will be televised in Minnesota on FS-N.

Take a look at Let's Go Tribe for some more info on the Indians. Head over to Twinkie Town for more Minnesota Twins coverage and check out Baseball Nation for even more news from around the league.

AL Batting Title: Joe Mauer Is Moving Up

The 2012 season has been one to forget for the Minnesota Twins, but not quite for catcher Joe Mauer. Mauer has quietly put himself within striking distance of the A.L. lead in batting average after another solid night on Tuesday. Entering play on Wednesday, Mauer's .325 average is third in the league behind Mike Trout's .327 and Miguel Cabrera's .333.

The added intrigue to the race for the batting title in 2012 is that Cabrera is currently making a serious run at the A.L. Triple Crown. Aside from holding the league lead in batting average, he is also first in RBI with 129 and second in homers to Josh Hamilton with 40.

Mauer, for his part, has led the A.L. in batting three times: in 2006 when he hit .347, in 2008 when he hit .328 and in 2009 when he hit .365.

For more on the Twins, check out Twinkie Town or stick with SB Nation Minnesota. For more news, notes and analysis from around MLB, head over to Baseball Nation.

Twins Vs. Indians Final Score: Minnesota Wins Series Opener In Extra Innings

The Minnesota Twins held on to beat the Cleveland Indians, 6-5, in 12 innings on Tuesday night to open a three-games series at Progressive Field.

Alexi Casilla and Pedro Florimon Jr. came off the bench for Minnesota and both singled home a run in the top of the 12th inning to break a 4-4 tie. Cleveland catcher Carlos Santana hit a solo homer in the bottom of the 12th but Minnesota reliever Glen Perkins struck out Michael Brantley to end the game.

The Twins wriggled out of trouble in the bottom of the 10th inning when the Indians had a great chance to win the game. Tribe second baseman Jason Kipnis lead off with a hit and made his way to third base with no outs. Cleveland eventually loaded the bases but three consecutive pop-fly outs failed to plate the game-winner.

Reliever Tyler Robertson (2-2) came on to lure the final out in the 10th inning and then went on to earn the win for the Twins. The loss dropped Cleveland into a tie with the Twins for last place in the AL Central standings as the two teams resume their series on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. ET.

Take a look at Let's Go Tribe for some more info on the Indians. Head over to Twinkie Town for more Minnesota Twins coverage and check out Baseball Nation for even more news from around the league.

Twins Vs. Indians Lineups: Joe Mauer, Ryan Doumit Playing Against Cleveland

Joe Mauer and Ryan Doumit are back in the Minnesota lineup for the second consecutive game in the Twins' series opener against Cleveland Tuesday night. Mauer and Doumit, who both missed most of last week with nagging injuries, returned on Sunday against the White Sox.

The Twinkies can climb out of the A.L. Central basement with a series win over the Indians. Right-hander P.J. Walters (2-4, 6.70) starts for Minnesota Tuesday night. Ron Gardenhire's restocked lineup faces Cleveland southpaw David Huff (1-0, 0.00), who will make his first start in almost a year.

Lineups:

Minnesota (60-87)

Cleveland (61-86)

Take a look at Let's Go Tribe for some more info on the Indians. Head over to Twinkie Town for more Minnesota Twins coverage and check out Baseball Nation for even more news from around the league.

Twins Vs. Indians: Twins Look To Halt 3-Game Losing Streak

The Twins and Indians will begin a three-game series on Tuesday.