Indians rebound in nightcap, earn doubleheader split with Twins

CLEVELAND _ Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco struggled in the first game before Cody Anderson was terrific in the second, and the results followed those performances as the Indians split a doubleheader with the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday at Progressive Field.tmpplchld In the first game, Carrasco was knocked around early and the offense struggled to mount any kind of rally in a 7-1 loss.tmpplchld Carrasco (14-12) lasted just three innings, allowing five runs on five hits and striking out five. He allowed a solo home run in the first inning to Twins first baseman Joe Mauer and was then knocked around in the fourth inning, unable to record an out.tmpplchld Trevor Plouffe made it 2-0 with an RBI single to left field and later, with the bases loaded, Torii Hunter continued his onslaught against Indians pitching this season with a bases-clearing double, extending the Twins’ lead to 5-0.tmpplchld In the top of the seventh inning, Twins rookie Byron Buxton, facing Gavin Floyd, singled home Eduardo Nunez. And in the top of the ninth, Buxton added a solo home run off of Shawn Armstrong.tmpplchld Jason Kipnis knocked in a run with a single to right field against Twins relief pitcher Blaine Boyer in the seventh inning. That capped an otherwise quiet day for the Indians at the plate against starting pitcher Kyle Gibson (11-11), who threw six scoreless innings on just four hits and struck out nine.tmpplchld Kipnis and Francisco Lindor were the lone offensive bright spots for the Indians. Kipnis finished 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Lindor went 2-for-3 with two singles, a walk and two stolen bases. After those two, the Indians went a collective 3-for-24.tmpplchld ___tmpplchld The second game was nearly a complete reversal, as Anderson (7-3) turned in the solid performance, throwing seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out two.tmpplchld And it was the Indians’ (78-79) offense that got off the fast start in a 10-2 win.tmpplchld Abraham Almonte started the second inning against Twins starter Mike Pelfrey (6-11) with a double and came around on a single up the middle by Michael Martinez. Ramirez then drove Martinez in with a double to left-center, making it 2-0.tmpplchld After an infield single by Lindor, a Pelfrey wild pitch allowed Ramirez to score. Carlos Santana followed with an RBI single to cap the inning and extend the Indians’ lead to 4-0.tmpplchld In the third, recently promoted catcher Adam Moore singled home Lonnie Chisenhall. And in the fourth, Lindor blasted a two-run home run to right field, his 12th of the season, to put the Indians up 7-0.tmpplchld The first run of the game for the Twins (82-76) came off the bat of Miguel Sano, who clobbered a solo home run off of Zach McAllister in the eighth inning.tmpplchld Jose Ramirez answered in the eighth with a three-run home run that included a bat-flip toward the Twins’ dugout after the Twins intentionally walked Kipnis. Several members of the Twins ran to the top step and were yelling at Ramirez as he crossed home plate.tmpplchld In the ninth, Eddie Rosario hit a solo home run off Austin Adams and had some words for Ramirez as he rounded second base.tmpplchld ___tmpplchld (c)2015 Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio)tmpplchld Visit the Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio) at www.ohio.comtmpplchld Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.tmpplchld