Rookie Cole De Vries wins third straight as Twins top Tribe

Minneapolis, MN, United States (4E Sports) – After getting thumped in the opener of this series, the Minnesota Twins bounced back with the help of rookie pitcher Cole De Vries’ six shutout innings en route to a 3-0 win over the Cleveland Indians Saturday night at Target Field.

It was the third straight decision won by De Vries (5-5).

De Vries, who signed with the Twins as a non-drafted free agent out of the University of Minnesota on Aug. 22, 2006, gave up just four hits and a walk with two strikeouts to earn the decision.

In third inning, De Vries overcame a scare when he was hit by a Asdrubal Cabrera line drive in the ribs. The 27-year-old right-hander opted to remain in the game, and got through the next three frames.

De Vries’ gutsy performance enabled him to register a 1.54 ERA in his last four starts, dating back to Aug. 21.

Joe Mauer hit an RBI single and Josh Willingham added a sac fly for the Twins, who had lost four of their last five entering Saturday’s game. Justin Morneau had RBI with a bases-loaded walk in the victory.

De Vries and three relievers combined on a four-hitter to hand Cleveland its seventh shutout of the season. Glen Perkins worked the ninth for his 11th save.

Zach McAllister (5-7) gave up two runs on two hits and three walks over three innings as he lost his third straight decision. McAllister is 1-6 with a 5.33 in his last 10 starts.

Shin-Soo Choo had two hits in the loss, the second in the last three for the Indians.

Also Saturday, Minnesota retired the No. 10 of former Twins manager Tom Kelly prior to the game. Kelly, credited with creating the “Twins Way”, led the club to World Series titles in 1987 and 1991.

Kelly is the Twins’ all-time leader and ranks 43rd on Major League Baseball’s all-time list with 1,140 managerial wins.

Minnesota is expected to carry the momentum as it attempts to take two straight from the Indians in the third edition of this four-game set with Esmerling Vasquez (0-1, 7.94) starting Sunday afternoon.

It will mark as the second start of the big-league career for Vasquez, who had made 141 straight major-league outings in a relief role before beginning the Twins’ Sept. 2 game at Kansas City.

Corey Kluber (1-3, 4.79) will start for Cleveland. Kluber, who started against the Twins on Aug. 7 in Cleveland but received a no-decision, will look to build on his first win in his big-league career.

Kluber hurled six-innings of two-run ball in a 3-2 triumph at Detroit on Sept. 3.

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