Sowers Takes the Mound
After getting knocked around by the major leagues’ highest-scoring lineup in his shortest career start, Cleveland Indians left-hander Jeremy Sowers will try for a better result Monday against another team swinging some hot bats.
Sowers and the Indians (8-7) visit the Metrodome for the opener of a two-game set with the Minnesota Twins (11-7).
Oddsmakers have made Minnesota -120 point spread favorites (MLB Odds) for todays game, the over/under has been set at 9.5ev total runs (View MLB Sports Books). Our public betting information shows that 76% of bets for this game have been placed on Minnesota -120 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
Sowers (0-1, 5.17 ERA) lasted just 2 2-3 innings Wednesday against the New York Yankees, allowing six runs and nine hits in a 9-2 loss.
"It’s one of the toughest lineups I’ll have to face in my entire life probably," said the 23-year-old left-hander, who went 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA in two starts last season against the Twins. "You really can’t give them anything."
On Monday, Sowers will have to face another tough lineup, as Minnesota is averaging more than six runs over its last six contests. The Twins scored 14 runs in the first two games of their weekend series with Kansas City, but could only manage a split of those contests before falling 3-1 on Sunday to lose the series.
Minnesota loaded the bases in the first inning with one out, but couldn’t advance the runners and was then shut down until the sixth, when Joe Mauer singled with two outs. Mauer, who went 2-for-4 and is batting .393, scored on Michael Cuddyer’s double.
"We had a chance to get to (Royals starter Jorge De La Rosa) in the first inning with the bases loaded, but after that not much out there," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.
The Indians took two of three from Tampa Bay over the weekend, rallying to defeat the Devil Rays 6-5 on Sunday. Victor Martinez cut a two-run deficit in half in the ninth with a one-out RBI single, and Ryan Garko hit a three-run homer to put Cleveland up 6-4.
"It felt good to finally come through with guys on base in a clutch spot personally and as a team," said Garko, who had one RBI in his previous 10 games.
The series win came after Cleveland was swept at New York last week. The Indians were outscored 27-11 in that three-game set.
"I think it was a big win for us, as big a win as we’ve had all year – two weeks in," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said of Sunday’s victory. "You look at some of the circumstances and situations that we’ve run through this year, for us to come back and take one late right here should be a big pickup for us."
Cleveland went 3-6 at the Metrodome last season and is 7-11 there the last two years.
Minnesota returns home after completing its six-game road trip. The Twins are 6-4 at the Metrodome this season.
The Twins will hand the ball to Carlos Silva (1-1, 2.00), who allowed three runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 5-4 win over Seattle on Wednesday. The right-hander struck out four, walked one and didn’t give up a run until the sixth, when he allowed a three-run homer to Richie Sexson.
Silva will be making his second home start this season. He pitched 6 2-3 scoreless innings April 12 against Tampa Bay, allowing seven hits in a 3-2 win.
Silva is 4-3 with a 4.87 ERA in 13 appearances – 12 starts – against the Indians.
by: Michael Cash – thespread.com – Email Us
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