Indians lose Salazar, prevail on Napoli’s blast

MINNEAPOLIS — The Indians have overcome a lot this season in their rise to the top of the American League Central. Cleveland was tested again on Friday night, when starter Danny Salazar exited with injury, but the Tribe held on for a 5-4 victory over the Twins.

Salazar was pulled as a precaution after four innings and 76 pitches due to tightness in his right forearm, but a four-run second inning, an impressive home run by Mike Napoli and solid bullpen work helped Cleveland pick up the win. That allowed the first-place Indians to maintain their six-game lead over Detroit in the division standings.

Joe Mauer and Byron Buxton each delivered a home run off Salazar, accounting for three of the four runs allowed by the Indians righty. Brian Dozier also came through with an RBI double, taking advantage of a two-out fielding error by Tribe second baseman Jason Kipnis in the second.

That was not enough to halt Cleveland’s 33rd come-from-behind win of the year. Twins righty Tyler Duffey was charged with five runs (two earned) on seven hits in five innings in the loss. A throwing error by Duffey in the second helped the Indians to their first four runs, and Napoli pushed the Tribe ahead for good, 5-4, in the fifth with his 32nd home run of the year.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDParty at Napoli’s: Napoli led off the fifth inning with a towering shot to the third deck beyond left field. The jaw-dropping blast was …

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