Twins Move Closer to Reeling in Tigers

While trying to catch first-place Detroit, the Minnesota Twins are catching everything hit their way too.

Minnesota turned five double plays for the first time in 11 years and Scott Baker pitched six strong innings as the Twins beat the Cleveland Indians, 6-1, on Sunday to move to within one game of Detroit in the American League Central.

“Guys made good plays behind me all day,” Baker said after pitching six strong innings. “It gives you a lot of confidence knowing guys will make the plays.”

The Twins moved four games ahead of Chicago in the wild-card chase and won for the eighth time in 10 games. Minnesota is 41-21 since a 6-4 loss to Cleveland dropped the Twins 12 games back on July 13.

Baker (5-8) finally threw well against Cleveland, allowing one run and six hits. The right-hander came in 0-3 with a 6.64 earned-run average in four career starts against the Indians.

Torii Hunter and Phil Nevin drove in two runs apiece for Minnesota, which made five double plays in a game for the first time since June 3, 1995, against Texas.

The Indians have lost 10 of 14.