Shutdown bullpen key in edging Twins

CLEVELAND — Indians closer Cody Allen has been an anchor to the bullpen and saved the day a number of times already. Fellow righty reliever Zach McAllister felt obligated to return the favor on Monday night at Progressive Field.

“It’s great,” McAllister said after the Tribe’s 1-0 walk-off win over the Twins. “He’s done that for us numerous times. He’s been put in situations that are challenging to come in and be successful, and he’s done it. To do that for him is definitely a good feeling.”

McAllister faced just one batter in Cleveland’s eighth walk-off victory of the season, but it was arguably the most important out logged all night as he replaced Allen to escape a bases-loaded jam in the 10th. Moments later, second baseman Jason Kipnis started off the 10-game homestand with an RBI single into left-center.

“You have to give our pitching staff credit, starting with Trevor [Bauer], and the bullpen took it from there,” Kipnis said. “Any time it takes one run to win a game, that goes straight to the pitching staff, who deserves the credit. We know, as an offense, we have to do better, but when all it takes is one and we were able to come through with a win tonight still, if we have to win 1-0 games, we’ll win 1-0 games. We’ll take it.”

After Bauer spun six scoreless frames to start, the bullpen logged 12 outs without allowing a run. Cleveland’s …

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