The Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins slugged it out on Friday the 13th at Progressive Field.
The Tribe would manage a 7-6 nailbiter win, thanks to some timely hits late in the game from their veteran leaders.
There were six home runs hit in the game between the two teams, five of which came in the first three innings.
The imposing right fielder Miguel Sano blasted the first one of the game, his fifth of the season, in the top of the first, a solo shot to give the Twins a 1-0 lead.
Miguel Sano hits home run #5 of the season to make it 1-0 Twins. pic.twitter.com/hVVj2kwOIK
— NEO Sports Insiders (@NEOSportsInside) May 13, 2016
Byung Ho Park followed that up in the top of the second, to make it 2-0 in favor of Minnesota.
Byung Ho Park blasts his 8th home run of the season. 2-0 Twins. Top 2nd pic.twitter.com/EpVr5BK0sL
— NEO Sports Insiders (@NEOSportsInside) May 13, 2016
Yan Gomes would answer back in the bottom of the second, driving a two-run shot to left field to tie the game, breaking an 0-for-20 slump he had been in the midst of heading into Friday night.
Yan Gomes snaps an 0-for-20 streak.
Ties the game at 2 in the bottom of the 2nd with a 2-run bomb. pic.twitter.com/YV2CbiQxGk
— NEO Sports Insiders (@NEOSportsInside) May 13, 2016
The rookie Park was back at it again in the top of the third, belting a two-run homer of his own to make it 4-2 Twins. It was his ninth home run of the season and his first multi-HR game of his MLB career.
Byung Ho Park hits his 2nd HR of the night.
4-2 Twins. Top 3rd. pic.twitter.com/ndXCj6V746
— NEO Sports Insiders (@NEOSportsInside) May 14, 2016
Jason Kipnis struck back in the bottom half of the third, hitting the fifth home run in just three innings of play, to cut it to a 4-3 ballgame.
Jason Kipnis hits the 5th total homer of the game.
It’s 4-3 Twins end of the 3rd. pic.twitter.com/Sv5Cs7NdRT
— NEO Sports Insiders (@NEOSportsInside) May 14, 2016
Marlon Byrd would tie the game with a sac fly in the bottom of the sixth.
Marlon Byrd ties it at 4 with a sac fly. 4-4 end of 6th. pic.twitter.com/jeLWYSjqNt
— NEO Sports Insiders (@NEOSportsInside) May 14, 2016
Unfortunately, Eduardo Nunez would hit the go-ahead solo homer in the top of the eighth to make it 5-4 in favor of Minnesota.
Eduardo Nunez hits his 2nd home run of the season, putting the Twins in front 5-4
Top 8
6th home run of the game pic.twitter.com/eY83elErxE
— NEO Sports Insiders (@NEOSportsInside) May 14, 2016
The Tribe would come back to life in the bottom of the eighth, however, as Francisco Lindor got things started with a single, stole his sixth base of the year, and Jose Ramirez followed him up with a one-out walk to put the go-ahed run on base for Byrd.
Byrd delivered in the clutch, driving in a two-run go-ahead double to put the Tribe in front 6-5.
Marlon Byrd puts the Tribe in front with a 2-run double in the bottom of the 8th!
Indians 6 Twins 5. pic.twitter.com/ihhJwTZ46i
— NEO Sports Insiders (@NEOSportsInside) May 14, 2016
Tyler Naquin would pinch run for Byrd at second base and Juan Uribe promptly drove him in to make it 7-5, giving closer Cody Allen an extra bit of breathing room in the ninth.
Juan Uribe clutch RBI single makes it 7-5 Tribe pic.twitter.com/N87fe5hLt1
— NEO Sports Insiders (@NEOSportsInside) May 14, 2016
The Tribe would need that extra insurance run, as Allen allowed a lead-off double to Danny Santana, who would advance to third on a throwing error. Allen would give up a run on an RBI single from Nunez to make it a 7-6 game.
Nunez would steal second to put the tying run in scoring position with one out.
Allen struck out the dangerous Sano, but walked Trevor Plouffe to put the go-ahead run on first with two down.
This would lead to an epic showdown with Park, who already homered twice in the game.
Nunez would advance to third base on a wild pitch, bringing the tying run 90 feet from home.
Allen would strike out Park swinging to earn his ninth save of the season.
Ballgame pic.twitter.com/HfGjZQPwKa
— NEO Sports Insiders (@NEOSportsInside) May 14, 2016
The Indians improve to 17-15 on the season and an impressive 11-4 against Central Division opponents.
The Tribe is back at it against the Twins on Saturday afternoon at 4:10 PM, as Corey Kluber takes the mound against Ervin Santana.
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