Cleveland struggles in third straight loss to Twins

The Cleveland Baseball Club only managed two hits in Sunday’s 3-1 loss to Minneosta, their third straight loss to the Twins.

There is only word to describe the offensive performance of the Cleveland Baseball Club Sunday. Pathetic. Two hits is all Cleveland managed as they got shut down on a Minnesota bullpen day. Cleveland’s hits were a Cesar Hernandez double in the 4th and a Francisco Lindor RBI single in the same inning. Before and after that there were only crickets.

The rest of the lineup combined to go 0-22 with 9 strikeouts, including Carlos Santana striking out looking to end the game. Cleveland is in a serious offensive funk right now and if they do not straighten things out soon they will get left behind fast.

On a lighter note, Aaron CIvale pitched admirably despite getting left at the altar by the offense. Civale allowed 3 runs on 5 hits while striking out 9 in 6 innings. The first Minnesota run that scored was a bit contentious considering that Max Kepler led off the inning with a leadoff ground rule double that may have been foul. Jorge Polanco drove him in on a flair to left field. Mitch Garver would extend the Twins lead to 2-0 with a solo homer in the 2nd. Nelson Cruz would add Minnesota’s final run on an RBI infield single in the 3rd.

Nick Wittgren relieved Civale in the 7th and did not allow a baserunner and struck out 1 batter.

James Karinchak pitched the 8th and allowed 2 hits with 3 strikeouts.

Cleveland will need to change their fortunes Monday evening as they face the Cincinnati Reds. With Cincinnati playing a doubleheader in Detroit Sunday it may give Cleveland a little bit of an advantage, something the team desperately needs.