CLEVELAND (AP) — The Twins weren’t too tired to run around the bases.
Max Kepler and rookie Alex Kirilloff drove in two runs apiece in Minnesota’s nine-run fourth inning and the Twins shook off a couple long days of cross-country travel by pounding the Cleveland Indians 10-0 on Friday night.
After flying from Minnesota to California and playing a doubleheader on Thursday, the Twins took a red-eye flight and didn’t arrive in Cleveland until 4:30 a.m. Friday. But they didn’t show any signs of fatigue and looked wide awake in winning the series opener.
“I guess they got a good day’s sleep,” cracked starter Randy Dobnak, who flew in a day earlier than his teammates. “I didn’t notice anybody being super tired.”
Dobnak (1-3) was the beneficiary of the Twins’ biggest inning this season and won his first start after being recalled from Triple-A St. Paul. The right-hander began the season in Minnesota’s bullpen before being demoted on May 3.
Dobnak, who worked as an Uber driver before making it to the big leagues in 2019, allowed just three hits in six innings.
Rob Refsnyder homered for Minnesota’s first run — and then the Twins poured it on in the fourth.
Triston McKenzie (1-3) helped the weary Twins with four walks in the inning before he was mercifully pulled by Indians manager Terry Francona. Reliever Phil Maton, however, wasn’t much better as Kepler hit a two-run double and Kirilloff, who came off the injured list earlier in the day, singled home a pair as Minnesota opened a 10-run lead.
The Indians also committed their first error since May 12 — a span of nine games — to aid the Twins in the fourth.
The night began on an ominous note for the Twins, who have been dealing with injuries all season. Designated hitter Nelson Cruz was scratched with a bruised wrist, forcing…
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