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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- With the trade deadline looming, the
Cleveland Indians want to make sure management doesn't give up on
this season.
Travis Fryman and Omar Vizquel both homered as the Indians
spoiled Minnesota manager Tom Kelly's return by snapping a
four-game losing streak with a 8-3 win over the Twins on Sunday.
"We need to stay in the race for either the division or the
wild card," said reliever Steve Karsay, who pitched a scoreless
ninth inning. "With the talent in this room, we need to show
management we can win games. It doesn't matter how you get into the
playoffs."
The Indians, the five-time AL Central Division champions, trail
the White Sox by 10½ games and could unload some veterans --
including slugger Manny Ramirez -- before July 31.
"Can you figure this one out?," asked Indians manager Charlie
Manuel. "We win one of three games and it's against their ace
pitcher (Brad Radke). It's a game we absolutely had to have."
Kelly had been in Florida since the All-Star break tending to
his ailing father. Ron Gardenhire, the team's third base coach,
served as interim manager and posted a 6-4 record.
"It's nice to be back," said Kelly, who watched Saturday
night's game at the Metrodome to get a feel for the team before
managing again.
The Twins were bidding to sweep a series from the Indians for
the first time since May, 1993.
But two relievers few people outside of Cleveland have ever
heard of -- Cameron Cairncross and Justin Speier -- came to the
rescue of starter Dave Burba.
Burba (10-4) allowed three runs, five hits and five walks in 5
1/3 innings. He struck out seven to reach double figures in wins
for the fifth straight year.
But the game was in danger falling apart for Cleveland when
Burba couldn't make it out of the sixth. Ron Coomer and David Ortiz
singled with one out and walks to Corey Koskie and pinch-hitter
Midre Cummings cut the lead to 4-3.
Cairncross, in just his third big league game, relieved Burba
and struck out pinch-hitter Denny Hocking. Speier then replaced
Cairncross and retired pinch-hitter Marcus Jensen on a popout to
end the inning.
"Those guys saved me today," Burba said. "I just lost my
focus. I tried to pick a bit and got into trouble. I hated the
bases-loaded walk but I guess it could have been worse."
Fryman's two-run homer, his 15th, gave the Indians a 3-2 lead in
the fourth inning. Ramirez doubled off Radke (7-11) before Fryman
hit his first homer since June 16.
The Indians added to their lead in the sixth when Minnesota left
fielder Matt Lawton misjudged Ricky Ledee's line drive and it went
off the fence for a double. Richie Sexson's RBI single made it 4-2.
"Jacque (Jones) and I looked at each other and said, 'Where is
it?," Lawton said. "I saw it off the bat and then I lost it
totally."
The Indians had Radke in trouble most of the day, getting a
runner in scoring position in five of his six innings. They scored
in the third when Einar Diaz tripled and came home on Vizquel's RBI
single.
"Brad pitched a pretty good game," Kelly said. "But we didn't
see the one ball and it cost us. And a couple of our guys had tough
days against Burba."
Travis Miller started the seventh for Minnesota and loaded the
bases. Hector Carrasco relieved and allowed a two-run single to
Ramirez and a sacrifice fly to Fryman.
Coomer, who had four hits in Saturday's 10-6 Minnesota victory,
gave the Twins the early lead with his 12th homer of the season, a
two-run shot in the first inning. It was his first homer since
hitting one off Burba on July 1.
Vizquel, whose 95-game errorless streak at shortstop ended
Saturday, homered with two outs in the top of the ninth.
Game
notes
Diaz's triple was just the second of his 192-game career.
... Burba moved into fifth place in strikeouts in the AL with 121.
... Ledee's ball wasn't the only adventure in the Metrodome Sunday.
Two foul balls struck speakers, changed direction and fell
harmlessly to the ground.
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