Cleveland, OH – Alexi Casilla drove in the go-ahead run and scored a vital insurance run in the top of the 12th inning, as the Minnesota Twins held off the Cleveland Indians, 6-5, in the opener of a three-game series.
Scott Maine (1-1), the 10th Indians pitcher used on Tuesday -- a new club- record for a single game -- gave up a two-out single to Darin Mastroianni, who promptly swiped second before Casilla hit a grounder to the right side of the infield.
Second baseman Jason Kipnis managed to field the ball, but Casilla beat the throw and Mastroianni alertly hustled home with the lead run. Two more singles by Jamey Carroll and Pedro Florimon upped Minnesota's lead to 6-4.
Glen Perkins earned his 12th save of the season despite giving up a home run to Carlos Santana with two outs in the bottom of the 12th.
Tyler Robertson (2-2) inherited a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the 10th and recorded the final out. He then retired Cleveland in order in the 11th to notch the win.
"Our bullpen was super. They came in and did a really nice job," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.
P.J. Walters got the start for Minnesota and allowed four runs -- two earned -- on eight hits in five-plus innings.
David Huff made his first start of the year for the Indians after being recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Sept. 4. The left-hander was tagged for three runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Down a run, Cleveland opened the sixth with three straight singles, loading the bases. Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire replaced Walters with Brian Duensing, who struck out Lonnie Chisenhall swinging.
Third baseman Trevor Plouffe was then charged with an error after taking a liner from Casey Kotchman off his right hand. Santana scored the tying run on the play, and Ezequiel Carrera beat out a double-play grounder to give the Indians a 4-3 lead.
Josh Willingham countered with an RBI single for Minnesota in the seventh.
"We fought hard, came back and had the lead in the seventh. We couldn't hold it," Indians manager Manny Acta said.
Huff gave up three straight hits to begin the game, with Denard Span scoring on Joe Mauer's single. A sacrifice fly by Justin Morneau brought home Ben Revere.
The Indians got a run back in the bottom of the first when Shin-Soo Choo scored on an Asdrubal Cabrera groundout. Chisenhall then homered to center field with one out in the second to pull the Tribe even.
Minnesota moved back in front in the fourth. Ryan Doumit worked a leadoff walk and Carroll ripped a one-out double down the left-field line before Eduardo Escobar plated Doumit on a 5-3 grounder.
Game Notes
Huff went 2-6 with a 4.09 ERA in 11 games -- 10 starts -- with the Indians last season ... Cleveland finished 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position, while Minnesota left 12 men on base.
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