Continued: Hernandez fired up after getting lit up

CLEVELAND - The Cleveland Indians dismantled Livan Hernandez and the Twins 12-2 on Thursday night at Progressive Field, and afterward, emotions were still running high.

Livan Hernandez issued a public apology to the Twins for his recent struggles and then began to rant about the commentary on Cleveland's TV broadcast.

The Twins also had a hard time holding back their anger toward the other side after a mini-beanball war had broken out in the late innings.

But one day after Rangers outfielder Milton Bradley threatened to go after Royals broadcaster Ryan Lefebvre, the words Hernandez had for the Cleveland broadcast crew resonated the most.

Hernandez (6-4) gave up seven runs on 12 hits in three innings.

After starting the season 6-1, Hernandez is 0-3 with a 9.37 ERA in his past six starts, and during that stretch he has given up more than two hits per inning.

"I apologize to the organization because I know they expect something better of me," Hernandez said. "I won a lot of games early, and now I struggle. I'm sorry. It's not like I'm not trying. If somebody's mad at me because I'm not doing my job, I'm sorry."

Hernandez said he went to the clubhouse after his outing and watching the local telecast, which includes play-by-play man Matt Underwood and color commentator Rick Manning.

Hernandez didn't know their names and didn't specify which one upset him. He said a teammate told him that one of the broadcasters had played against him for Cleveland in the 1997 World Series, when Hernandez was named Series MVP for the Florida Marlins.

That was incorrect information. Manning played 13 seasons in the major leagues, but his years with Cleveland were from 1975 to 1983. Underwood did not play in the majors.

"I come inside [the clubhouse] and the guy's talking stuff on TV," Hernandez said. "He knows better than that. He's talking about the World Series and ... it's ridiculous. He's talking bad about everybody."

Hernandez, 33, said there was a comment about his age.

"You don't know me," Hernandez said. "You've got something to say, you're jealous or something -- when they come into Minnesota, I'm there in the locker room. If not, I can wait outside in the parking lot, and say something to me like a man."

With Hernandez speaking several minutes after the game, Underwood and Manning were not available for comment.

The Twins fell to 1-6 on their 10-game road trip, which continues tonight in Milwaukee.

Tempers flared after Brian Bass hit Jamey Carroll with a pitch in the fifth inning, and Cleveland's Edward Mujica hit Alexi Casilla in the eighth.

That seemed to even the proverbial score -- a second baseman for a second baseman. But Casilla went 0-for-3, and this ended his chance to extend his 13-game hitting streak.

"If it was intentional, it's not appreciated," Twins right fielder Michael Cuddyer said.

Twins reliever Dennys Reyes drilled Andy Marte later in the eighth, prompting the umpires to warn both dugouts. Gardenhire and Cleveland manager Eric Wedge were seen yelling at each other.

"I was just telling him, 'I'll see you in Minnesota, that's all,' " Gardenhire said.

Wedge declined to get into it.

The tension didn't end there, as Cleveland's Casey Blake, a former Twin, stepped on the back of Mike Lamb's shoe at first base when he grounded out to end that inning. Lamb stood on the field for a prolonged moment, getting his shoe back on.

"Casey would never do that on purpose, I think," Cuddyer said. "He was just hustling down the line, and unfortunately stepped on the back of his heel."

Whether or not the tension lingers, the teams next meet July 4-6 at the Metrodome.