Minnesota Twins Daily Clips

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Twins, Santana crushed in Cleveland. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 1 Postgame: Indians squared up Santana's fastball. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 2 Twins notes: Rosario nears club rookie record for triples. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 3 Twins, Santana rocked in 17-4 loss to Indians. Star Tribune (Berardino) p. 4 Postgame Twinsights: Shane Robinson breaks down his mound debut. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 5 Twinsights: Byron Buxton returns to the outfield at Triple-A. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 6 Twinsights: Chris Herrmann leaves his funk behind. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 7 Twinsights: Padres claim Caleb Thielbar off waivers. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 7 Robinson impresses in rare pitching opportunity. MLB.com (Fagerstrom) p. 8 Homers not enough vs. aggressive Tribe. MLB.com (Bastian & Fagerstrom) p. 9 Hughes aims to limit long ball vs. Indians. MLB.com (Fagerstrom) p. 10 Rosario displays power in form of triples. MLB.com (Fagerstrom) p. 11 Grand slam, position player on the mound mark Indians’ rout of Twins. Associated Press p. 12 Indians game vs. Twins starts as planned despite nearby fire. Associated Press p. 12

Twins, Santana crushed in Cleveland Phil Miller | Star Tribune | August 8, 2015 CLEVELAND – One Twins pitcher had a moment to remember on Saturday, freezing a hitter with a perfect breaking ball for strike three, working out of a jam with minimal trouble, earning backslaps, high-fives and big smiles from his teammates when he returned to the dugout. Shane Robinson always dreamed it would be like this. Paul Molitor feared that it would.

At a time when the Twins are carrying nine relief pitchers on their 25-man roster, they still didn’t have enough Saturday, resorting to a backup outfielder for an inning of work in an embarrassing 17-4 loss to the Indians. “Players have fun with it to some degree, but it’s not fun for me,” Molitor said after the Twins lost for the 11th time in 14 games. “It’s not what you want to do.”

But it’s what Robinson has wanted to do for years, since he pitched in Little League back in Tampa Bay. “I can scratch it off my bucket list now,” said Robinson, who despite occasional lobbying had never pitched in the intervening two decades.

He only got a chance Saturday because Ervin Santana was somehow even more ineffective than his fellow starters have been on this slog through Toronto and Cleveland, giving up 10 hits and eight runs while recording only seven outs. And because the exhausted-by-overwork bullpen was even worse, with five unlucky contestants surrendering nine more runs over five innings. Ryan O’Rourke and A.J. Achter didn’t retire a batter, Blaine Boyer served up a pinch-hit grand slam, and the Twins gave up at least nine runs for the fourth consecutive game, a first since 2003.

Starting pitching, a relative strength for three months, has collapsed on this trip; none has lasted five innings since Tuesday, and they’ve been belted around for 35 runs in 24 ⅓ innings, a 12.95 ERA.

Cleveland 17, Twins 4

So maybe it was helpful that Robinson gave the Twins a moment to enjoy, and the Twins gave Robinson a night he’ll never forget. He entered in the eighth, with bases loaded and the Twins trailing by 11, and did better than Molitor could have expected, throwing 14 pitches, seven for strikes. Throwing

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nothing but low-80s fastballs because he was petrified of throwing a wild pitch or giving up “something that could be crushed,” yet full of nervous energy, Robinson walked in a run. “A big taboo,” he said. “Walks will haunt.”

Then came a couple of outs, a run-scoring grounder and a fly ball too shallow to score a run (or perhaps the Indians were being gracious).

And finally, Robinson’s tour de force: With Jerry Sands, who clubbed a pinch-hit grand slam in the fifth inning, at the plate, he got ahead in the count 1-and-2, and used his secret weapon: a knuckleball that he pesters teammates with in the outfield on a daily basis.

He had wanted to use it throughout his inning but was talked out of it. “I asked Herm [catcher Chris Herrmann], ‘Are you OK with me throwing the knuckleball?’ He kind of looked around and said, ‘Eh, I don’t know with the bases loaded,’ ” Robinson said. “I was like, ‘Good point.’ ”

But with two strikes and two outs?

“I knew I was going to throw it, and I perspired it. Herm gave me the sign, and I was quick with it, like I was throwing my regular fastball,” the outfielder said. “And I froze him.”

He got the game ball as a souvenir, and the congratulations of his teammates. On an otherwise miserable night, Robinson managed to lighten the mood.

Postgame: Indians squared up Santana's fastball

Phil Miller | Star Tribune | August 8, 2015

Another long night for the Twins, who can’t wait to get home after tomorrow’s game:

— No starting pitcher has gone more than six innings since last Sunday, and none has survived even five innings since Tuesday. So Ervin Santana’s meltdown Saturday was exactly what the Twins didn’t need. The bullpen, already worn thin, was beaten and battered by an Indians team enjoying some hittable pitching.

Santana, his manager said, was obviously overmatched from the start. “He obviously wasn’t locating his fastball, and his offspeed pitches [the Indians] were taking,” Paul Molitor said. “They were squaring up almost every fastball in the zone.”

The veteran righthander mostly shrugged, saying he couldn’t explain it, either. “Every pitch I threw, location was not good. I was behind the count for the most part,” Santana said. “You hope they hit it at people, but today they didn’t.”

Santana, who gave the Twins hope with back-to-back scoreless starts in mid-July after being suspended for the first half of the season, lost his third straight start on Saturday, and this one was his ugliest yet: He retired just seven batters and allowed eight runs. Santana’s ERA in his last three starts is 10.93.

— Lost in the carnage of the pitching staff was the Twins’ best power showing on the road this year: Three home runs, tying the three they hit in Milwaukee on June 27. And the identity of the sluggers was even more unique: Joe Mauer, whose last homer came exactly one month earlier; Kurt Suzuki, who hadn’t hit one since June 20; and Eddie Rosario, who had never hit a home run on the road.

— Blaine Boyer’s problem with first batters makes him a bad risk with the bases loaded, but Molitor didn’t feel like he had much choice on Saturday. Ryan O’Rourke had walked all three hitters he faced, and thrown a wild pitch, so Molitor didn’t want him facing right-handed pinch-hitter Jerry Sands. Boyer got the call, and his familiar problem — the first batter he faces has 16 hits and five walks in 50 plate appearances — cropped up again at the worst time. Boyer quickly fell behind 2-and-0, then left a fastball over the plate. Sands became the first pinch-hitter to crush a grand slam against the Twins since Jason Bartlett, then of the Rays, in 2010.

— Despite the gloom in the clubhouse, Shane Robinson’s enthusiasm for getting to pitch was a nice highlight. He said he was nervous, but took on all the mannerisms of a pitcher, even stalking around the mound after walking the first batter, mostly out of nervousness, he said. Since the bases were loaded, he couldn’t throw as hard as he wanted, because he was fearful of throwing a wild pitch, so each of his pitches tracked by mlb.com were labeled changeups. “I was throwing darts out there,” he said. He said Trevor Plouffe told him that he was hoping to pitch in the game, “but I was like, ‘No, you’re not. You’ve got a little too much contract. Just stay over at third base.”

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And after striking out Sands to end the eighth, he checked the pitch-tracker in the clubhouse. “I spotted it,” Robinson said. “I watched it on k-zone — it’s right on the edge” of the strike zone.

Twins notes: Rosario nears club rookie record for triples

Phil Miller | Star Tribune | August 8, 2015

CLEVELAND – Eddie Rosario knows he has an ally in his pursuit of the Twins’ rookie triples record: the record holder. Rosario tripled twice on Friday and now has eight on the season, just one short of Tony Oliva’s franchise rookie record of nine, set in 1964. “I talk to Tony every day in Minnesota. He tells me, ‘Do it, do it,’ ” the 23-year-old outfielder said. “He’s happy for me.” So is his manager Paul Molitor, who has been impressed with Rosario’s decisionmaking on the bases and his hustle in getting out of the batters box. “We try to teach our players in development and the minor leagues to make their own decisions on the bases, for the most part. Your coaches are there to help you, and sometimes the ball is going to be behind you, so they’ll make the decision,” Molitor said. “But when you’re going from first to third or extend a double to triple, generally it’s your own call.”

Rosario is tied with John Castino, who had eight triples in 1978. Both Castino and Oliva were voted AL Rookie of the Year. Rosario isn’t out for awards, he said. He’s just trying to be aggressive, without taking a bad risk. “When I get to second, I have to see the ball. But if I have a chance, I can go really hard,” he said. “It’s my game. I have to play hard, every day.”

Merritt supports Achter

Troy Merritt has never played golf with his wife’s cousin, Twins relief pitcher A.J. Achter, but he knows how many strokes he plans to spot him when they finally get that chance. “Zero. Zero strokes,” Merritt said. “He’s a professional athlete! I’ve played with [Padres pitcher] James Shields, and he says he’s a scratch golfer.” Hmm. Doesn’t quite seem fair, considering that Merritt is a PGA Tour professional and last weekend won the Quicken Loans National in Washington, D.C., his first career PGA victory. Merritt, who is competing this week at the World Golf Classic-Bridgestone event in nearby Akron, drove to Progressive Field after Saturday’s round to visit his relative, who made his Twins debut the night before.

“It’s the second time I’ve missed seeing him pitch,” said Merritt, an Iowa native who started his college career at Winona State and has been married to Courtney (Achter) Merritt for five years.

Padres claim Thielbar

Caleb Thielbar was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres on Saturday and assigned to the Class AAA El Paso Chihuahuas in the Pacific Coast League. Before he left, though, the Northfield, Minn., native thanked the Twins for helping him get to the major leagues. “I had a good conversation with him after I called to tell him,” said assistant general manager Rob Antony. “He’s very appreciative that we signed him out of indy ball [when he was with the St. Paul Saints], and said ‘I might have not have got another chance if not for you guys. I got a chance to pitch for the team I grew up cheering for.” Etc.

• Catcher Eric Fryer accepted an assignment to Class AAA Rochester after being cut by the Twins on Thursday. • Class AAA catcher Josmil Pinto will begin playing with the Twins’ Gulf Coast League team in Fort Myers, Fla., on Monday, as he works his way back to Rochester. Pinto has missed two months with a concussion. • Tommy Milone remains on track to return from an elbow sprain when he is eligible next Sunday, Antony said.

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Twins, Santana rocked in 17-4 loss to Indians

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | August 8, 2015

CLEVELAND --As much as Torii Hunter loves hitting here, it seems fair to say Ervin Santana loathes pitching at Progressive Field.

Three of the eight shortest starts of his 303-start career have now come at the home of the Cleveland Indians.

Saturday night, the Twins' right-hander was knocked out after retiring just seven batters in a 17-4 loss.

"I know I don't have good numbers here, but today was worse," Santana said. "Everything I threw, they hit it."

Charged with eight earned runs after allowing 10 hits, Santana saw his career earned-run average jump to 6.62 at the place formerly known as The Jake. That's his second-worst figure for any park at which he has made more than four starts.

The Texas Rangers (6.93 ERA) have bashed Santana (2-3) around even more in 17 career starts at the Ballpark in Arlington. That, in fact, was the site of his July 21, 2012 shelling (five outs, six earned runs), the last time Santana was chased quicker than he was on Saturday.

Twice in his career, Santana has been lifted from a start after retiring just one batter. The first time that happened was here against the Indians: Aug. 10, 2006, when Jason Michaels hit a comebacker that struck Santana on the right leg and forced him to leave after five pitches.

"And that score was almost the same as this one," Santana recalled.

Indeed, his Los Angeles Angels fell 14-2 on that night almost exactly nine years earlier.

This time it got so bad that, even with a nine-man bullpen, the Twins were forced to use outfielder Shane Robinson on the mound in the eighth. Robinson, who hadn't pitched since Little League in Tampa, Fla., retired three of the four batters he faced, striking out Jerry Sands with a 64-mph knuckleball to end the eighth.

The last Twins position player to pitch was former infielder Jamey Carroll in August 2013 at Kansas City.

"I tried to get through without using a position player, but I couldn't go any farther," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "I had to get Robinson in there to at least get us back off the field."

After returning with a flourish from his 80-game steroid suspension just over a month ago, Santana has seen his ERA spike from 2.60 to 5.40 since beating his original team in Anaheim, Calif. Santana has dropped his past three starts, compiling a 10.93 ERA in that span (14 innings, 17 earned runs).

The Twins signed him to a four-year, $55 million contract in December.

Saturday, Santana failed to retire leadoff man Jose Ramirez in any of his three plate appearances against him. In fact, Ramirez was a homer shy of the cycle by the time he chased Santana with a two-run double.

After struggling with his slider in his past outing, a six-inning quality start on Monday at Toronto, Santana had command of nothing in his repertoire.

Even more troubling than Santana's downturn, the Twins' rotation has fallen into an ugly stretch of just three quality starts in its past 14 tries. In that span, Twins starters have gone 1-8 with a 7.93 ERA.

They have given up 99 hits (16 homers) and 24 walks in their past 72 2/3 innings. They have averaged just 5.2 innings per start and struck out just 43 batters, a nine-inning rate of 5.33.

Molitor called the rotation "one of the strong points of our season" but admitted its performance "hasn't been the same" of late. There are no plans to change the rotation at this point, although left-hander Tommy Milone is progressing well and eligible to come off the disabled list on Aug. 16.

In these past four starts, dating to the spot start given to rookie Tyler Duffey on Wednesday, the Twins have allowed a 20.60 ERA. In 12 2/3 innings, they have given up 34 hits and 29 earned runs.

Offensively, the Twins' past six runs over a span of 13 innings have come on home runs, five of them solo shots.

Saturday, Joe Mauer homered in the first, ending a power drought of exactly one month since he went deep off since-released right-hander Bud Norris (Baltimore Orioles).

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Kurt Suzuki ended his drought of 113 at-bats, dating to June 20, with a two-run homer off right-hander Trevor Bauer (9-8). Eddie Rosario added a two-out solo homer in the sixth.

Postgame Twinsights: Shane Robinson breaks down his mound debut Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | August 8, 2015

CLEVELAND — As the middle innings dragged on and Saturday’s game turned into a blowout loss for the Twins, Trevor Plouffe and Shane Robinson got to talking in the dugout.

“I’m probably going to get in this game to pitch,” said Plouffe, a highly rated pitcher in his high school days.

“No, you’re not going to get in,” Robinson said. “You got a little bit too much contract to get in. You stay at third base, and I’ll take over.”

A few innings later, that’s exactly how it happened. Trailing 15-4 with the bases loaded in the eighth inning, Robinson was summoned in from right field, where he had replaced Torii Hunter in the sixth.

Upon reaching the mound, Robinson turned to catcher Chris Herrmann, another mid-game replacement, and revealed his plan for his first mound opportunity since Little League.

“Are you OK with me throwing the knuckleball?” Robinson said.

Herrmann glanced around at the situation on the bases.

“Ah, I don’t know, with bases loaded,” he said.

“Good point,” Robinson said.

Robinson, just the eighth different Twins position player to take the mound (11 total appearances), finished his warmup tosses, which included a handful of knucklers, a pitch he messes around with every day during warmups and one he’s been “tinkering with” since his pre-teen days.

It’s a pitch he feels so confident about he once threw off the mound for St. Louis Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak, just to prove he was serious about pitching in a game. Unfortunately, Robinson never got the call during his Cardinals years; that always went to infielder Daniel Descalso.

“They used Descalso a few times,” Robinson said, “and I was always mad.”

Robinson finished his warmup tosses with about a minute to spare, at which point plate umpire Mike Everitt wandered out for a quick chat.

“Hey, I’ve only got two pitches: fastball and knuckleball,” Robinson said.

“Knuckleball?” the umpire replied.

“Yeah, be ready for it,” Robinson said. “I’m going to throw it.”

Struggling with his nerves and his fastball command, the 30-year-old Robinson — generously listed at 5-foot-7 in the media guide — walked Mike Aviles on five pitches to force in a run.

Maxing out at 83 mph with his heater — Mark Buehrle territory, actually — Robinson got Carlos Santana on an RBI groundout to Plouffe for his first-ever mound out.

Next, Robinson got the newly acquired Chris Johnson to fly out to short right field, where he had just been stationed. Since this was technically still Major League Baseball and not Bugs Bunny baseball, Eddie Rosario made the catch as the runners held.

That brought up Jerry Sands, who had hit a pinch grand slam off Blaine Boyer in the fifth.

Even with runners on the corners, Robinson got to two strikes on Sands and Herrmann decided to go for it. He would call for the knuckler.

“I’ve got it down to a pretty good science,” Robinson said. “I thought before the pitch I was going to throw it. I pre-gripped it in my glove and put it down. And then Herm gave me the sign, and I just went quick with it like I was throwing my regular fastball and froze him on it.”

Everitt, who of course had been tipped off, stayed with the floater and rang up Sands to end the eighth.

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“I spotted it, too,” Robinson said later. ” I watched it on K-Zone. It’s right on the edge.”

With that Robinson bounded off the mound and met up with Herrmann in foul ground. The catcher popped the precious baseball into Robinson’s glove, and the dugout greeted the veteran reserve outfielder like a conquering hero.

This has been an incredibly difficult year for Robinson and his family. Harper, the infant daughter born over the winter to Robinson and wife Jessica, has required multiple surgeries to combat esophageal atresia, a condition where the esophagus isn’t properly connected to the stomach.

Harper has spent long periods in a medically induced coma, and her father has had to leave the Twins at two different points this season to be with his family in Boston, where Harper is under constant medical attention.

So those smiles in the dugouts when Robinson came out after his 14-pitch outing, one that saw him join Drew Butera (2012) and Cesar Tovar (1968) as the only Twins position players to record a strikeout?

Those were because Robinson and his family deserved a night like this.

“I know they were excited and happy for me,” Robinson said of his teammates. “Getting a strikeout was awesome. It was fun, man. I had a good time doing it. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I can scratch it off my bucket list now.”

–Twins right-hander Phil Hughes, who starts Sunday against reigning Cy Young winner Corey Kluber, owns the last two victories by a Twins starter: July 30 against Seattle and July 24 against his former team, the New York Yankees.

The Twins have gone 3-11 since the latter victory.

This might be Hughes’ biggest start of the season considering the state of the Twins’ bullpen, wild-card chances and collective psyche.

“We’re hoping,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “It’s hard for me to recall our longest start in the past week. Phil’s done a decent job as far as extending games and minimizing bullpen usage. I think he’ll realize that given our situation we’re going to need him to ride it out. Hopefully he rides it out in a way that it’s not because we have to force him to do that. I hope it’s because he’s pitching well.”

–Struggling reliever Blaine Boyer entered a 9-3 game with the bases loaded in the fifth inning and promptly made things worse.

Boyer fell behind 2-0 to pinch hitter Jerry Sands and gave up an opposite-field grand slam that turned the game into a laugher.

Boyer has now allowed 16 of 28 inherited runners to score. That’s 57 percent.

First batters are 17 for 44 (.386) against him with five walks and just four strikeouts.

–The Twins’ season run differential has sagged to minus-28.

That’s tied for ninth in the American League with the Indians, who are 4 1/2 games behind the Twins in the Central standings.

The Twins have been outscored by 26 runs on this six-game road trip, which concludes Sunday.

Twinsights: Byron Buxton returns to the outfield at Triple-A Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | August 8, 2015

CLEVELAND — Twins rookie Byron Buxton was in Saturday’s lineup in center field for Triple-A Rochester.

Buxton went 3 for 5 in his return on Friday in Charlotte, N.C., after missing more than six weeks with a sprained left thumb.

“Physically he was fine,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “His at-bats were mostly good. Showed a little rust at times, but obviously he had some success in his first game.”

Buxton was called out on a close play at first or he might have had a four-hit game in his return.

“No replay,” Molitor said.

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Briefly

–Triple-A Rochester catcher Josmil Pinto, who last played on June 9, was headed to Fort Myers, Fla., where he was expected to play in the Gulf Coast League as soon as Monday. Pinto, who suffered a concussion during spring training, had a setback that has kept him out for the past two months. He will start out as the designated hitter.

–Twins left-hander Tommy Milone (mild flexor strain) has played catch twice with “no issues,” Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony said. Milone has extended out as far as 90 feet for 25 tosses. Eligible to come off the disabled list on Aug. 16, Milone shouldn’t need a rehab assignment before rejoining the Twins rotation provided he has no setbacks.

–Antony said it was hard to gauge how much waiver blocking has taken place so far this August. “I don’t know what the motives are,” he said. “But when you’re in the upper third of the league, it’s harder to get claims through.” The Twins had “added flexibility,” Antony said, with an open spot on their 40-man roster after outrighting catcher Eric Fryer to Triple-A Rochester.

Twinsights: Chris Herrmann leaves his funk behind Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | August 8, 2015

CLEVELAND — Chris Herrmann earned his way back to the majors with his bat.

Since getting sent back to Triple-A Rochester in early July, the backup catcher posted a .364 on-base percentage in 84 plate appearances. That was far better than the .239 OBP he posted in sporadic play for the Twins in the first three months of the season.

“I wasn’t really playing much here,” Herrmann said. “Just to get myself out of the funk I was in was a positive thing for me.”

Over his final 19 at-bats for Rochester, Herrmann had eight hits, including a home run. Overall he had five multihit games in the past month and went 3 for 3 in stolen-bases attempts.

He was called up after Thursday’s game to replace Eric Fryer, who cleared waivers after being designated for assignment.

Herrmann sat for the first two games of this weekend series against the Cleveland Indians, but he figured to be in the lineup Sunday afternoon. He said the biggest thing that got him going with the Red Wings was consistent playing time.

“I was catching every day,” he said. “I played one game in the outfield. I made a diving catch that day, too, so that was pretty cool. My legs feel good. I forgot what it was like to play every day for awhile. I got the hang of it again.”

Herrmann, who has hit just .188 with a combined on-base/slugging percentage of .542 in 314 career big-league at-bats, dropped about four pounds while playing 23 games for the Red Wings. He’s now 194 pounds after entering the season at 200.

Twinsights: Padres claim Caleb Thielbar off waivers

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | August 8, 2015

CLEVELAND — Left-handed reliever Caleb Thielbar, who grew up in Randolph and worked his way back through independent ball with the St. Paul Saints, has been claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres.

Thielbar, 28, made 109 combined appearances for the Twins over the past three seasons, all in relief. He compiled a 2.,74 earned run average in the majors, but just six of those appearances came this year.

Thielbar was designated for assignment on July 31 after the Twins acquired veteran reliever Kevin Jepsen in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Twins manager Paul Molitor said he planned to reach out to his fellow Minnesotan.

“I’d like to wish him well,” Molitor said of Thielbar, who lost his mother Janet last offseason. “You think about the journey he’s taken of being a Minnesota guy and fighting his way back from independent ball to having a nice run with us. Actually he was pitching fairly well down there. It just became a roster situation.”

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Thielbar had a 2.81 ERA in 29 games for Triple-A Rochester this year, but his strikeout/walk rate was just 19/18 in 32 innings. He had been bypassed in the upper reaches of the Twins system by fellow lefties Aaron Thompson and Ryan O’Rourke, and the Twins also have Logan Darnell at Triple-A as well.

Also Saturday, Twins backup catcher Eric Fryer cleared outright waivers and was outrighted to Rochester. He is expected to report Sunday.

Fryer, 29, had a .286 on-base percentage in seven games for the Twins over the past month. He was taken off the 40-man roster and designated for assignment after Thursday’s game at Toronto.

Chris Herrmann was called up to replace Fryer as Kurt Suzuki’s backup.

Robinson impresses in rare pitching opportunity

August Fagerstrom | MLB.com | August 8, 2015

CLEVELAND -- By the fifth inning, Twins manager Paul Molitor began thinking about which position player he'd choose to take the mound if worse came to worst.

Shortly thereafter, outfielder Shane Robinson began lobbying.

"It's something I've always wanted to do," Robinson said. "So I can scratch that off my bucket list now." Starting pitcher Ervin Santana was knocked out of the game by the third inning of Saturday's17-4 loss in Cleveland, and the Twins burned through five relievers over the next 4 2/3 innings. By the time they got to Robinson, they had used all nine members of their bullpen in the previous 24 hours. Third baseman Trevor Plouffe thought he'd be the one to get the call.

"I was like, 'No, no. You've got a little bit too much contract to get in,'" Robinson said. "'You just go ahead and stay at third base. I'll take over.'"

Robinson threw a scoreless eighth inning, walking the first batter he faced and striking out the last. He needed 14 pitches to complete the frame -- 13 fastballs that topped out at 83, and a knuckleball at 64.

Yes, a knuckleball.

"I throw the knuckleball every day," Robinson said, deadpan and serious as ever. The knuckler was his final pitch of the day, a floater that froze Jerry Sands for strike three to end the inning. It's a pitch he's been working on since Little League, a pitch he threw for Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak in something of a pseudo-tryout for emergency pitcher during his tenure in St. Louis. "Unfortunately, I got in with the bases loaded so I couldn't really throw it," Robinson said. "I wanted to throw it as soon as Molly gave me the ball and walked off the mound, so I asked [catcher Chris Herrmann], I said, 'Are you OK with me throwing the knuckleball?' He kind of looked around and went, 'Eh, I don't know with the bases loaded.' I was like, 'Good point.' I finished with my warmup pitches and still had a minute left. The umpire came up to me and I said, 'Hey I've only got two pitches: a fastball and a knuckleball. He goes, 'Knuckleball?' And I go, 'Yeah, so be ready for it. I'm gonna throw it.'"

After the game, Robinson watched his outing on replay and was pleased with his command.

"I saw it there on K-Zone," Robinson said. "Right on the edge."

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Robinson's appearance on the mound was a lighthearted moment amid an otherwise tough stretch for the Twins, who have lost six of their last seven and are 6-15 since the All-Star break.

"Occasionally, games get out of hand like that," Robinson said. "You do your best to put it in the past and carry on with the next day. With me going out there, I think a lot of guys were pumped up about it, they came up to me after the inning and were talking to me about it. Obviously it's not where we want to be in the game, but if you can take any kind of positive about it, it was a fun time at the end." Homers not enough vs. aggressive Tribe Jordan Bastian & August Fagerstrom | MLB.com | August 8, 2015

CLEVELAND -- Jerry Sands belted a pinch-hit grand slam, Abraham Almonte had four hits in his Indians debut and Jose Ramirez finished a homer shy of a cycle, helping Cleveland pour it on against the Twins in a 17-4 rout on Saturday night at Progressive Field.

"Today was a really good, fun, productive day for us," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "We swung the bats so well from top to bottom, had obviously a lot of energy, ran the bases good, swung the bat good, caught the ball. It's one game, but it's sure a heck of a lot better than losing." The outpouring of offense made a winner out of right-hander Trevor Bauer (9-8), who yielded four runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings, ending with eight strikeouts and three walks for the Indians (50-59). All four runs came via home runs. Joe Mauer belted a solo shot in the first, Kurt Suzuki added a two-run blast in the fourth and Eddie Rosario added a solo homer in the sixth. Twins starter Ervin Santana (2-3) took the loss after allowing eight runs on 10 hits in 2 1/3 innings for the Twins (55-55), who are trying to stay in the hunt for an American League Wild Card. After reliever Ryan O'Rourke issued three straight walks in the fifth, fellow Twins reliever Blaine Boyer gave up Sands' grand slam to spread the game open for Cleveland.

"We just couldn't get anybody to pick us up," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "Sometimes that's going to happen, and it gets ugly when it does, we all know that. It's just one of those games that you want to discard as quickly as possible." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Bases unloaded: Hitting with the bags full has been an Achilles' heel (.159 average in 82 at-bats) for the Indians all season long. That was not the case on Saturday. Following Ramirez' double with the bases loaded in the third, Yan Gomes drew a walk with the bags full in the fifth. One batter later, Sands delivered his opposite-field grand slam. "[That was] good," Sands said, "especially since the last couple of days I've been struggling a little bit. To come off the bench and help the team, it's good." Dynamic debut: Acquired from the Padres on July 31, and promoted from Triple-A Columbus on Saturday, Almonte made a strong first impression with his new team. Almonte doubled and scored in each of his first two at-bats, launched a towering two-run homer in the eighth, and finished 4-for-5 in his Cleveland debut. "That was great," Francona said. "I know one game doesn't define somebody's career, but at the same time, we're looking for reasons to be excited about guys and encouraged. If you can't be encouraged watching that … He's got really good hitter's hands. And shoot, man, we're looking to have guys help us. That was exciting." J-Ram speed: Ramirez lost his helmet a few times on the basepaths in the first three innings, when he ignited the Tribe lineup with three hits and a pair of runs. The second baseman singled and scored in the first, delivered an RBI triple in the second and drove in two more runs with a bases-loaded double in the third.

"He looks like the Jose like you saw the second [half] last year," Francona said. "He's playing with good energy. He's finding ways to get on base. He looks more confident at the plate. He looks more confident in the field."

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Busy bullpen: One day after Twins starter Mike Pelfrey lasted just 3 2/3 innings, forcing the Twins to use five relief pitchers, Santana was pulled before the end of the third, and the Twins used another six relievers, including outfielder Shane Robinson in the eighth. The team recalled A.J. Achter on Friday, giving them a season-high nine-man bullpen, but all nine have now been used in the past two days. "For the most part, one of the strong points of our season has been our starters giving us a chance fairly consistently and, as of late, it hasn't been the same," Molitor said. "We're giving shorter outings, and it makes it tough. But we don't have any plans to change anything up at this point." SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Francisco Lindor had one sacrifice bunt and two sacrifice flies in Saturday's win. He became the first Indians player with at least one sac bunt and two sac flies in a game since Mel Hall achieved the feat on May 1, 1988. Before Lindor, the last Major Leaguer to pull that off was Pittsburgh's Tike Redman on April 12, 2004. Sands' grand slam was the second of his career and the first by an Indians hitter this season. The last Cleveland batter to belt one was Nick Swisher, who beat the Angels with a walk-off grand slam for the Indians on June 19 last season. Sands' was the first pinch-hit slam by an Indians hitter since July 1, 2006 (Travis Hafner).

According to STATS Inc., Almonte became the first player since at least 1914 to have at least three extra-base hits and four hits in his debut for Cleveland. WHAT'S NEXT Twins: Righty Phil Hughes (10-7, 4.14 ERA) will make his team-leading 23rd start in Sunday's series finale at 1:10 p.m. ET. Hughes has faced the Indians twice this season, and has allowed eight earned runs in 13 innings across those starts. He allowed a home run in both games, and leads the Majors with 27 home runs allowed this year. Indians: Right-hander Corey Kluber (6-12, 3.60 ERA) is slated to take the ball for the Tribe in Sunday's finale of this three-game set with the Twins. The American League's reigning Cy Young Award winner boasts a 2.99 ERA in 11 home starts this season but is coming off a rough start (five runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings) last time out in Anaheim. Hughes aims to limit long ball vs. Indians

August Fagerstrom | MLB.com | August 8, 2015

The Indians and Twins wrap up their three-game series in Cleveland with an afternoon game scheduled for a 1:10 pm ET first pitch. Right-hander Corey Kluber (6-12, 3.60 ERA) will take on Twins righty Phil Hughes (10-7, 4.14 ERA).

In Kluber's only outing vs. Minnesota this season, he allowed two earned runs over eight strong innings, allowing five baserunners, but he got a no-decision.

Hughes' season-long struggles with the long ball have continued in his past couple outings, as he's allowed four homers in his past two starts. His 27 home runs allowed are the most among all pitchers this season. Things to know about this game • After Twins starter Mike Pelfrey lasted just 3 2/3 in the series opener, Ervin Santana was bounced after allowing eight runs in 2 1/3 innings on Saturday. The Twins' bullpen is surely hoping Phil Hughes can give the Twins an elongated outing. • Center fielder Abraham Almonte made his Indians debut on Saturday and went 4-for-5 with two doubles and a two-run homer. The only true center fielder on the active roster, he will likely receive the bulk of the playing time there for the time being. Other recent acquisition Chris Johnson also suited up for the first time on Saturday but did not start. He pinch-hit for Yan Gomes in the eighth, flying out to right. Look for him in the lineup Sunday. • The Indians are 18-22 in day games and 20-15 in series finales this season. The Twins have played .500 ball in the afternoon, going 25-25, and are 18-17 in series finales.

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Rosario displays power in form of triples August Fagerstrom | MLB.com | August 8, 2015 CLEVELAND -- A batter's power typically manifests itself in a rather obvious fashion.

You see a tall, hulking hitter with an uppercut swing. You hear unusually loud cracks off the bat and witness majestic home runs that find their way dozens of rows back in the outfield seats. Eddie Rosario is not your typical slugger.

The Twins' rookie left fielder stands 6-foot-1 and weighs in at 180 pounds. He's hit just six home runs in 75 games this year, and he's never slugged more than 12 home runs in a single season above rookie ball. Yet, by any measure, Rosario has hit for above-average power this season. His .444 slugging percentage entering play Saturday is higher than the marks of prolific home run hitters like Evan Gattis and Curtis Granderson. His .169 isolated slugging percentage (ISO) -- a better indicator of raw power that isolates extra-base hits -- leaves him sandwiched between traditional sluggers Prince Fielder and Kendrys Morales.

It hasn't been obvious, but it's there. Power doesn't have to come solely from the bat. It can come from the legs, too. After recording two triples in Friday's 10-9 victory in Cleveland, Rosario is up to eight for the season, tied for second in the Majors despite not making his Major League debut until May 6. And while both of Friday's triples came largely as the result of outfielders falling down, there were still six that came before those.

A quick glimpse at the lefty-swinging Rosario's spray chart from this season reveals his preferred method of the three-bagger.

Six of Rosario's eight triples have come from balls hit in the gaps, including four to left-center field. About half the time that Rosario's put a ball in the gap, he's turned it into a triple.

"The part that I like about Eddie is he's a guy that knows how to come out of the box," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "The old adage is when you hit a single, you think a double and when you a hit a double, you think triple. He's kind of shown that mindset."

Not only does Rosario have good speed, but he's also shown good baserunning instincts. He has taken the extra base in 53 percent of his opportunities -- well above the league average of 39 -- and has made just three outs on the bases all year. The best baserunners are aggressive, yet calculated.

"When he's been going for third, they've been really good decisions," Molitor said.

As was on display Friday, and as Molitor made sure to mention, triples can be fluky. Rosario never hit more than eight in a season above rookie ball, so perhaps this season is something of an aberration. He does have one thing working in his favor, though, in his home stadium of Target Field. According to the park factors hosted at FanGraphs.com, Target Field increases triples by 10 percent, making it the sixth-best triples park in the league.

Rosario may never be your typical power hitter, but as long as he's got speed, gap power and Target Field, his hidden power output could remain.

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Grand slam, position player on the mound mark Indians’ rout of Twins

Associated Press | August 8, 2015

CLEVELAND -- Jerry Sands had a pinch-hit grand slam and Abraham Almonte, called up from the minors before the game, was 4 for 5 with a two-run homer, leading the Cleveland Indians to a 17-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night.

Trevor Bauer (9-8) won for the first time since July 8, allowing four runs in 6 1/3 innings. He gave up solo homers to Joe Mauer and Eddie Rosario and a two-run homer to Kurt Suzuki. The Indians recorded season-highs in runs and hits (19), forcing Twins manager Paul Molitor to use outfielder Shane Robinson to pitch in the eighth. Robinson walked Mike Aviles with the bases loaded, but retired the next three hitters.

Sands, batting for Lonnie Chisenhall in the fifth, homered to right off Blaine Boyer. Three consecutive walks by Ryan O'Rourke loaded the bases before Sands broke an 0-for-11 slump with his second career grand slam.

Almonte, acquired from San Diego for pitcher Marc Rzepczynski on July 31, was called up from Triple-A Columbus and started in center field. He doubled in each of his first two at-bats then singled in the sixth and homered in the eighth.

Jose Ramirez, replacing the injured Jason Kipnis at second base, was 3 for 5 with a career-high three RBI for the Indians.

Ervin Santana (2-3) allowed eight runs in 2 1/3 innings.

A fire in a building behind the ballpark's garage broke out about 45 minutes before the game started, sending clouds of black smoke billowing into the sky. The fire was under control about 30 minutes later and the game began on time.

Mauer homered in the first, but Brantley and Chisenhall had RBI singles in the bottom of the inning to begin Cleveland's onslaught.

Santana fell to 1-7 in 10 career starts at Progressive Field with the only win a no-hitter while pitching for the Angels on July 27, 2011.

Suzuki hit a two-run homer in the fourth while Rosario had a solo homer in the sixth.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Twins: OF Byron Buxton (left thumb sprain) was 3 for 5 in the first game of his minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester on Friday.

Indians: RHP Cody Anderson was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained left oblique. The rookie was 2-1 with a 0.89 ERA in his first four career starts, but went 0-2 with a 10.19 ERA in his last four.

UP NEXT

Twins: RHP Phil Hughes has surrendered an AL-high 27 homers in 22 starts. He leads the league in hits allowed with 163 and issues the fewest walks per nine innings at 0.9. Indians: RHP Corey Kluber seeks his third straight win over Minnesota. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner is 4-2 in 11 career appearances against the Twins.

Indians game vs. Twins starts as planned despite nearby fire

Associated Press | August 8, 2015

CLEVELAND -- Clouds of black smoke billowed into the sky behind Progressive Field about 45 minutes before the game between the Minnesota Twins andCleveland Indians. The fire began in a building located behind the ballpark's parking garage in left field Saturday. Sirens of emergency vehicles could be heard as they approached the scene. A team spokesman said access to the garage and adjoining streets was closed.

The fire was under control about 15 minutes before the scheduled 7:10 p.m first pitch. Fans continued to enter the ballpark and pregame activities proceeded normally. The game began on time.