Juan Centeno, a minor league free agent acquisition last year who had stints with the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Mets, was the difference-maker in the Minnesota Twins win over the Cleveland Indians, which snapped an eight-game losing streak Saturday afternoon.
With the Tribe up 1-0 in the fifth, he hit a two-run home run off of 2014 AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber. Then, in the ninth inning, he led off with double and Danny Santana scored him with a single in the next at-bat — the first of two runs that inning that put the Twins up 6-3.
Yan Gomes hit a solo shot off of Kevin Jepsen in the bottom of the ninth, but the Indians would get no closer and for the third time on the road this season and only the second time this month, Minnesota came away with a win.
“To have Kluber as your first [home run], it’s something to brag about for a long time,” manager Paul Molitor told the Star Tribune. “I’ve really been pleased the couple times we have put him in there. He doesn’t seem overwhelmed by being in the batter’s box or handling the pitching staff.”
Twins righthander Ervin Santana went six innings, holding Cleveland to one run on five hits and one walk with five strikeouts. If they win tomorrow, it will be the team’s first series win since April 25-27 and their first series victory on the road.
“I feel a little relieved,” Molitor told the Star Tribune. “It’s one of those things where we’re trying to continue to find ways where we’re trying to re-instill some confidence here. Even when we have days where we might be showing some signs of life, we find ways to lose.
“So discouragement has been there, and so at some point you have to find a way to win and get one on the board and see where it goes. There’s no guarantees about tomorrow, but I think everyone will rest a little easier tonight.”
[Star Tribune, Associated Press]
