Another rookie silences bats

Tony Dejak, Associated Press

Twins catcher Joe Mauer held up the ball after tagging out Cleveland’s Jhonny Peralta to end the second inning Monday. Peralta was thrown out by Twins center fielder Carlos Gomez.

For the second day in a row, the Twins couldn't solve a young starter on a sub-.500 team, this time Cleveland's Scott Lewis.

By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: September 16, 2008 - 12:09 PM

CLEVELAND - Indians lefthander Scott Lewis has not given up a run in his first two major league starts, spanning 14 innings, but the Twins know he can be had.

After all, their Class AAA Rochester squad pounded him for five runs in four innings on Aug. 14.

He walked the first three batters that day. Matt Macri hit a home run.

But on Monday night, Lewis kept the Twins twisted in knots for six innings, and Cleveland hit two homers off Kevin Slowey for a 3-1 victory at Progressive Field.

One day after getting blanked for eight innings by hard-throwing Baltimore rookie Radhames Liz, the Twins continued to look tight as they remained 1 1/2 games behind the White Sox, who lost 4-2 at Yankee Stadium.

"We know we're still in this thing," Slowey said of the American League Central race. "By no means do we feel like we're done. We have plenty of games left [12], so we lost a tough one, but we'll be back [tonight]."

Slowey (12-10) gave up three runs over six innings. Both home runs came with two outs -- a solo homer by Kelly Shoppach in the fourth inning and a two-run shot by Shin-Soo Choo in the fifth.

That was enough as Lewis, 24, continued to look like a softer-throwing version of Cleveland's Cliff Lee, who will take his 22-2 record to the mound Wednesday against the Twins.

After holding Baltimore to three hits over eight scoreless innings Wednesday in his major league debut, Lewis (2-0) had only a little more difficulty with the Twins. He gave up three hits and two walks, but the Twins were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

The Twins scored 24 runs in sweeping a doubleheader at Baltimore on Saturday -- but they have done little offensively since then.

Over the past two games, the Twins' top four hitters -- Denard Span, Alexi Casilla, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau -- are a combined 2-for-29. Mauer's single off Liz was the only hit for that foursome Sunday, and his ninth-inning homer off Indians reliever Jensen Lewis (no relation) was the only hit Monday.

"We're very frustrated right now," Gardenhire said. "We know where we're at and what we're trying to do, and you get these pitching performances against you and it frustrates you. But we'll come back [tonight]."

The Twins will be facing another lefty in Zach Jackson, who is 0-3 with a 5.70 ERA since coming to Cleveland from Milwaukee in the July trade for CC Sabathia.

Still, he's another unknown for the Twins.

The Twins had chances against Lewis. Twice a runner reached second base with nobody out and never made it to third.

When Nick Punto doubled in the third inning, Carlos Gomez followed by faking a bunt and hitting a lazy pop fly to right field.

Delmon Young singled and advanced on a wild pitch in the fifth inning, and Brendan Harris followed with a sharp groundout to third base.

Gardenhire said Harris' play was forgivable because he had two strikes and needed to at least put the ball in play. Gomez had no excuse after swinging at the first pitch.

"That's fundamental," Gardenhire said. "We are a very good bunting team, and we always give them the option: bunt him over, or get him over however you can.

"You're just thinking he's going to drop one down. It's a perfect opportunity and he fake-bunts and pops it up. That's just trying way too hard and not staying within yourself."

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