Game #29 Observations: Indians Outhit Twins, But Fall Short in 3-2 Setback

The Indians had all kinds of chances on Monday night at Progressive Field, as they piled on 12 hits to the Twins eight, but a couple long balls was enough for Minnesota as they extended their lead in the AL Central to 2.5 games with a 3-2 win over the Tribe.

When you looked at the Indians shortened 2020 schedule, one series that you had to circle as an important one was the one that started Monday night at Progressive Field.

It was a three-game set against the Minnesota Twins, a team you knew was going to be the biggest rival to the Indians regaining the AL Central in 2020, a team that was loaded for a World Series run.

The two teams already played four times in Target Field in Minnesota earlier this season, with the Twins taking three of four, so the Indians used that as motivation to try and come out Monday and even the score.

Unfortunately for the Tribe, they outhit the Twins but a couple long balls did them in as they fell to Minnesota 3-2 in a tough setback.

The loss put the Indians back to 2.5 back in the AL Central, and while there are still plenty of games to play, a direct loss to their rivals sting more than to any other team.

Here are tonight's observations as we look at just what happened at Progressive Field to the Tribe in this one-run loss.

Civale's Boo-Boos

Indians pitcher Aaron Civale had gotten off to a solid start in 2020, but his mistakes to Twins batters on Monday night were enough to do him and the team in.

Miguel Sano hit a two-run blast, and Nelson Cruz also homered for the Twins, all they would need on offense to eek out the one-run win.

"It was a fastball," Civale said of the homer he allowed to Cruz in the 4th inning to tie the game at one.

"Tip my cap to him on it, it was a pretty good sequence, he put a good swing on it."

Civale went six innings in the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts.

Other than the two mistakes he did a solid job keeping the ball not only in the park but avoiding the Twins putting up a big inning that could have really put pressure on the Tribe offense.

A Night Where the "O" Showed Up

The Tribe offense actually outhit the Twins 12-8, but sadly they didn't get the big hits when need be in the one-run loss.

While Minnesota left just five runners on base, the Indians left 11, including Francisco Lindor in the 9th who got on with two outs and a shot for Carlos Santana to be a hero.

Instead, CSan hit a lazy fly to right to end the game.

"It's frustrating I know the guys are trying, trust me they are trying everything," Indians acting manager Sandy Alomar said.

"They have tried to swing early, go deep into counts, they have tried to move runners at times, but we want to put them into situations were they drive the baseball."

Despite not coming through Santana was the guy you wanted up in the 9th, as he went 3-for-5 for the Indians.

Cesar Hernandez (who homered in the first), Francisco Lindor and Tyler Naquin all had two hits for the Indians.

Kenta Madea always seemed to keep the Indians off guard, and he deserves credit for doing a good job in going five innings allowing a run on five hits.

While it seems like the offense took a step forward Monday, it really needed to come with a win to make it feel like it meant something special.

Turn to the Ace

Tuesday night the Indians will have yet another chance to get the AL Central lead for the Twins back to 1.5 games, and they will do it with the best pitcher in baseball right now in Shane Bieber.

Biebs got the Indians their only win in Target Field a few weeks back when he pitched a 2-0 gem, and this season he's been lights out, going 5-0 with 1.11 ERA in six starts.

While you would think the pressure is getting a bit heavy on Bieber, he doesn't seem to show it, like last week when again the offense didn't give him much in terms of run support, but it didn't matter in a shutout of the Pirates in Pittsburgh.

The pitching staff is still in flux for the moment as the team has to make decisions on what to do with Adam Plutko, and it seems like Carlos Carrasco's struggles couldn't have come at a worse time.

Civale and Bieber have been the best two pitchers on the roster for the Indians in 2020, but Bieber and what he's been able to do over the first 29 games has been remarkable.

The Indians need a huge effort at home from him on Tuesday, as the last thing they can afford is a loss and then a sweep on Wednesday night to fall 4.5 back with less than half the season to play.