There were two outs and a runner on in the top of the fifth inning Saturday night at Target Field when Twins rookie Trevor May got a first-pitch strike against Cleveland's Lonnie Chisenhall. But May followed with four balls to walk him.

Yan Gomes followed, and May fell behind him 2-0. The righthander rallied to even the count, getting within a strike of escaping the inning. But a fastball left out over the plate enabled Gomes to extend his arms and drive the pitch over the right-center field wall for a three-run homer. That ended May's night.

"I've had eight starts [in the major leagues] now, and it's about taking care of your job and keeping guys in the game," May said. "If I get through that fifth inning and keep it a 4-2 ballgame, it's completely different going into the later innings."

The Twins lost 7-3 as May learned lessons about productive pitching. He had chances to limit the damage but failed every time. All of Cleveland's runs came with two outs.

May, gunning to win his fourth consecutive start, gave up seven runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three in 4â…” innings. Four of the hits went for extra bases. Gomes went 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs.

May (3-5) bounced several pitches, and Twins manager Ron Gardenhire noted May bounced fastballs off the plate, a sign that he was trying too hard to make pitches.

Cleveland first baseman Carlos Santana jumped to take a throw before swiping a tag on Kurt Suzuki in the fourth inning Saturday.

"I was one pitch away, over and over again," May said. "It seemed like I missed a spot and they took advantage of it."

The start was delayed 61 minutes by rain that sharply altered the temperature and forced many fans to put the stocking caps they were given before the game to immediate use. So their heads were nice and warm as Cleveland scored three runs in the second inning to open the scoring.

The Twins pulled within 3-1 and again within 4-2, but Gomes' homer helped the Indians pull away to end the Twins' modest three-game winning streak.

Brian Dozier homered in the eighth inning, his Twins-high 21st homer of the year but his first since Aug. 10, a span of 36 games.

Milone improving

There might be a Tommy Milone sighting before the end of the season after all.

The Twins lefthander went through long-toss drills, then threw around 15 pitches from the mound as he works his way back from a sore neck. If he checks out OK Sunday, he will throw in the bullpen Monday and could be available to pitch later in the week.

"I feel a lot better," he said.

Milone, 0-1 with a 7.40 ERA since the Twins acquired him from Oakland on July 31, said Saturday that he received a cortisone shot in his neck Monday.

"They said it could start to feel worse but then get better," Milone said, "but it felt about the same, then got better."

Hicks scratched

Aaron Hicks was originally in the starting lineup Saturday night as the center fielder, but he was scratched during the rain delay because of a stiff back. He was replaced by Eduardo Nunez, who started in left field with Jordan Schafer moving to center.

Hicks also said that Caracas of the Venezuelan winter league is interested in him playing there this year. He still hasn't made up his mind about playing winter ball. He wants to see how his body feels at the end of the regular season.

Etc.

Righthander Mike Pelfrey, out since late April because of elbow surgery, threw 45 pitches in a bullpen session and said he feels great. He has one more session scheduled Tuesday, then will be done until spring training in February.