Cleveland Indians beat Twins 4-1 on Eddie Rosario’s tiebreaking hit, strong start by J.C. Mejia – cleveland.com

MINNEAPOLIS — J.C. Mejia once again had a problem in the first inning. Good thing for the Indians it wasn’t a Pittsburgh-sized problem.

The problem didn’t beat the Indians this time because Eddie Rosario atoned for an embarrassing baserunning mistake in his homecoming to Target Field with a two-run, tiebreaking single in the eighth inning in a 4-1 win over the Twins.

The Indians, 3-3 on this nine-game trip, have won seven of their last 10 games.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli invited trouble in the eighth inning when he intentionally walked Jose Ramirez and brought in lefty Taylor Rogers to face the former Twin with one out and the bases loaded. Rosario calmly stroked Rogers’ first pitch through the middle to score Austin Hedges and Amed Rosario to break a 1-1 tie as Ramirez took third. Bobby Bradley’s ground out delivered Ramirez to complete the three-run rally.

As Rosario headed for first base, he flipped his bat and stared into the Minnesota dugout.

“I love that moment when they change the pitcher for me to go lefty-lefty,” said Rosario. “I knew Taylor was coming. I know it’s coming to me. I was ready.”

Hedges opened the inning with a bloop single to center. Cesar Hernandez followed with a wicked liner through the glove of third baseman Josh Donaldson for a single off right-hander Jorge Alcala. Amed Rosario seemingly stole the momentum from the inning when he hit into a double play. But manager Terry Francona asked the umpires to review the call — teams get an extra challenge from the eighth inning on — and the out call at first base was overturned.

On June 18, Mejia allowed five runs in the first inning against the Pirates. Thursday night he allowed one on a wild pitch and a balk. It could have been worse.

Luis Arraez opened the first with a single. Mejia struck out Donaldson, but walked Trevor Larnach. He retired Nelson Cruz on a pop up to short after his high and tight pitch knocked Minnesota’s DH down. Mejia, with Max Kepler at the plate, was called for a balk to put Arraez at third and Larnach at first. The wild pitch came next as Arraez scored for a 1-0 lead.

Hedges made it 1-1 with a broken-bat single to left with two out in the second off Jose Berrios. Hedges was back in the lineup for the first time since June 15 after being activated Thursday from MLB’s concussion list. Bradley opened the inning with a walk. Harold Ramirez followed with a bloop single, but Berrios struck out Josh Naylor and Bradley Zimmer to bring Hedges to the plate.

Mejia, a member of the Indians’ remade rotation following a rash of injuries and demotions, was charged with another balk in the second, which put runners on second and third with one out. He escaped by striking out Andrelton Simmons and Arraez.

“He did a pretty damn good job,” said Francona. “First couple of innings, I think he was at 53 pitches after two innings and you’re kind of like ‘Oh boy.’ But he limited damage early. And then, what third, fourth and fifth innings I think he had an eight-pitch inning, a seven-pitch inning, a 13-pitch inning. He got into a little bit of a rhythm, kind of like he did in Pittsburgh.”

The Indians had another second to score against Berrios, but it ended in embarrassment for Eddie Rosario.

Ramirez blooped a single into center to start the sixth. Rosario forced Ramirez on a sharply hit grounder to Arraez at second. Rosario was originally called out on the back end of a double play, but the Indians challenged and he was ruled safe. Then, with one out and Bradley batting, Rosario stole second as Bradley struck out.

Catcher Ben Rorvedt’s throw trickled into center field as Rosario bluffed about going to third. On his way back to second, Rosario turned his head and looked toward third base as shortstop Simmons took Arraez’s throw from short center and tagged Rosario before he stepped on second. The Indians challenged the out call, but replay supported it.

The Twins before the game celebrated Rosario’s six years with the organization with a highlight video on the scoreboard. That play would not have made the video.

“I was happy for him because that was certainly not what we were aiming for earlier,” said Francona, when asked about Rosario’s mistake. “But he got a big hit and that’s a good game to win, man. Sometimes winning’s hard, but it doesn’t mean you can’t do it.”

Mejia and Berrios had themselves quite a duel. Mejia allowed one run over six innings. He struck out four, walked two and allowed four hits. Berrios, whose winning streak of five straight decisions stayed intact, allowed one run over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out nine, walked two and allowed four hits.

“What helped me (tonight) is I wasn’t thinking too much,” said Mejia. “I was just executing all of my pitches. . .In the first inning I was a little anxious, a lot of emotions, just trying to do my best. Later I was able to just focus on executing my pitches and let the play dictate what was gonna happen.”

Mejia threw 96 pitches, 58 (60%) for strikes. Berrios threw 96 pitches, 61 (64%) strikes.

Blake Parker, Bryan Shaw and James Karinchak pitched the final three innings. The win went to Parker, his first with the Indians, while Karinchak earned his ninth save.

Next: RHP Cal Quantrill (0-2, 2.74) vs. RHP Randy Dobnak (1-6, 7.83) Friday at 8:10 p.m. ET. Bally Sports Great Lakes, WTAM, WMMS and Indians radio network will carry the game.