Indians open extended set with Twins

Right-hander Justin Masterson looks for a second defeat of game series at Progressive Field.

The 6-foot-6, 250-pounder was a 6-5 winner over the Twins on Sept. 18 in Minnesota, tossing six innings and allowing a single earned run on seven hits in a 6-5 victory.

The win was his first against the Twins in 12 career appearances.

Masterson hadn't won since Sept. 2 when he beat Kansas City, 5-4. In the interim, he'd taken consecutive losses to Detroit and Texas, allowing 16 hits and 11 runs in 11 innings.

Masterson is 4-5 at home this season with a 3.15 earned run average.

On Thursday in Cleveland, Asdrubal Cabrera hit a three-run home run and drove in five as the Indians pounded the Chicago White Sox, 11-2, in the finale of a four-game series.

Kosuke Fukudome went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, three RBI and two runs scored while Jason Kipnis added a solo home run for the Indians, who won the opening game of the set before dropping the next two.

Jeanmar Gomez (5-2) won his fifth straight start as he gave up just two runs -- one earned -- on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts over six innings of work.

In Minnesota, Rene Tosoni finished 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, the last one a game-winner, as the Twins put the brakes on an 11-game losing skid with a 3-2 decision over Seattle in the finale of a three-game set.

Trevor Plouffe worked a two-out walk against Steve Delabar (1-1), and raced home when Tosoni crushed a ball to the gap in right-center, which took one bounce and rebounded off the scoreboard.

Drew Butera knocked in the other run for the Twins, who salvaged a game in the series and won for the first time since beating the White Sox on Sept. 7.

Joe Nathan (2-1) turned in a scoreless top of the ninth.

Minnesota starts veteran right-hander Carl Pavano, who was on the sort end of the decision against Masterson five days ago.

He allowed an earned run on five hits in 6 2/3 innings in that loss, falling to 3-3 in his career against the Indians in nine starts.

A 17-game winner last season, Pavano last won on Sept. 7 against the White Sox for his eighth win of 2011.

He's 4-7 this year in 17 road starts with a 5.42 ERA.

Cleveland has won eight of 14 against Minnesota this season.