Tribe has hard time cashing in against Twins

CLEVELAND — As one of Tyler Duffey’s curveballs dropped through the strike zone, shortstop Francisco Lindor swung through the pitch, then let out a frustrated shout before leaving the batter’s box. It was a prime chance to break through against the Twins’ starter on Sunday, and Lindor knew it.

What Lindor could not have known at the time of that strikeout in the third, however, was the extent to which Duffey would toy with Cleveland’s lineup in this 5-1 loss — a loss that helped Minnesota to its first series win since late April. That knuckle-curve was one of many Duffey used to frustrate the Indians, who flirted with a pile of two-out rallies that went nowhere.

“He could have told you [Duffey’s] curveball was coming,” catcher Chris Gimenez said. “He’s very deceptive.”

Cleveland was hardly overpowered, but the lineup could not convert its opportunities.

The Indians had at least one baserunner in five of the seven shutout innings that Duffey logged, but the bulk of those came with two outs already on the board. On the day, Cleveland actually produced a 7-for-16 showing with two outs on the day, but none of that offensive work led to a run. The Indians ended the …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com