Santana Homers To Lead Cleveland Past Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS -- Carlos Santana homered among his season high-tying four hits and Danny Salazar won in his first start in more than two months as the Cleveland Indians beat the Minnesota Twins 8-2 Tuesday night.

Cleveland won for the fourth time in six games since the All-Star break. Minnesota has lost four of five.

Santana hit a no-doubt solo shot to right field in the fifth to put the Indians up 4-1. He also had two doubles and a bunt single to beat a defensive shift. Nick Swisher had his first three-hit game of the year for Cleveland.

Closer Cody Allen struck out pinch-hitter Chris Parmelee with a runner on third in a two-run game in the eighth inning before Cleveland scored four times in the ninth to negate a save opportunity when Carlos Carrasco pitched the ninth.

Minnesota's Brian Dozier had three hits, including his career-high 19th home run in the seventh inning.

Making his first appearance in the majors since May 15, Salazar (2-4) scattered six hits and allowed one earned run in five-plus innings. He walked three and struck out six.

After eight starts with the Indians, Salazar was sent to Triple-A Columbus to work on his mechanics and build up arm strength to last deeper into games. He went 3-6 with a 4.02 ERA in 10 starts there, but was 2-1 with a 2.16 ERA in his last four outings while looking more like the right-hander who had a 3.12 ERA in 10 late-season starts for Cleveland last season.

He was erratic as the Twins often worked him deep into counts, but emerged relatively unscathed as Minnesota's clutch hitting continued to be absent.

Minnesota was 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position and is 4 for 41 since the All-Star break.

Twins starter Yohan Pino (1-3) was sent to Triple-A Rochester after his July 10 start largely to remain on somewhat of a routine during the All-Star break. In his lone start with the Red Wings, last Thursday, Pino allowed five runs and walked seven in five innings.

Yet, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire didn't express much concern Monday. "He told me he was just working on a few things, so we'll leave it at that."

Pino allowed seven hits and four earned runs in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out five and didn't issue a walk.

A double, hit by pitch and single loaded the bases for Cleveland with no outs in the second. Yan Gomes struck out looking before David Murphy hit a 2-run single to right. A sacrifice fly by Mike Aviles made it 3-0.

Salazar issued three straight walks to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning, before striking out Sam Fuld and Danny Santana.

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