Left-hander Tommy Milone was solid while starting on short notice, while Trevor Plouffe hit a two-run homer off Corey Kluber to help the Twins to a 4-2 win over the Indians on Monday night at Progressive Field.
With their third straight victory, the Twins (81-75) are 1 1/2 games back of the Astros (83-74) for the American League’s second Wild Card. The Indians (77-78) fell to five games back of the Astros. Minnesota has six games left, while Cleveland has seven, including a makeup game against Detroit that would only be played if it has postseason implications. With their 81st win, the Twins are guaranteed a non-losing season for the first time since 2010.
“It feels good but we’re obviously not finished yet,” said Plouffe, who homered as part of a three-run first inning. “We’ve been battling all season. We’ve put ourselves in a good position and we’re looking forward to these last six games. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Milone, starting in place of right-hander Phil Hughes after he was scratched hours before the game with flu-like symptoms, went 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits to get his first win since Sept. 7.
He outpitched Kluber, who lost to the Twins for a second straight start. Kluber allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks over six innings. Kluber is 0-3 with a 6.59 ERA in three starts since coming back from a hamstring issue.
“I don’t think that’s an excuse,” Kluber said of the injury. “I think [I have] just been battling to get a little bit of command since I’ve come back. It hasn’t been spot on and I think that when I have made mistakes, it’s been elevated, which obviously plays into a hitter’s hand.”
Relievers Blaine Boyer, Casey Fien, Glen Perkins and Kevin Jepsen combined to throw 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Milone. Jepsen, who has been dealing with similar flu-like symptoms as Hughes, picked up his ninth save with Minnesota since being acquired from the Rays on July 31.
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