MINNEAPOLIS _ Eddie Rosario had a game, blasting a two-run homer in the ninth on Sunday to propel the Twins to a 7-5 win over Cleveland.
It was his third homer of the game, the ninth time a Twin has had that many in one game. It helped the Twins take three of four games from the Indians, the first time they have won a four game series in Target Field since 2015.
Brian Dozier led off the ninth by drawing a nine-pitch walk off of Indians reliever Cody Allen. Rosario worked the count to 2-1 before hitting a high drive that carried out to the seats just right of center field.
Down 4-3 in the seventh, Dozier homered off of Indians starter Mike Clevinger and Rosario went deep off of reliever Tyler Olson, the fourth time this season the Twins have hit consecutive home runs.
Before they could celebrate a series win, Michael Brantley snapped an 0-for-16 skid with a solo homer off of Addison Reed to tie the game at 5.
Robbie Grossman hit a one out double and was replaced by pinch runner Ehire Adrianza. Ryan LaMarre followed with a double just inside the left field line, and third base coach Gene Glynn waved Adrianza home. But Cleveland's relay was perfect, and Adrianza was thrown out easily.
For a while, it looked like the three runs the Twins scored in the first two innings off of Indians starter Mike Clevinger were going to hold up.
Rosario hit the first of his two home runs, and Miguel Sano rumbled from first to home on Eduardo Escobar's double as the Twins took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Brian Dozier added an RBI single in the second.
Gibson looked strong, putting his fastball where he wanted then mixing in breaking pitches as he went. He retired the first 12 Indians batters he faced, striking out five.
The run ended with a 1-2 changeup to Encarnacion that was socked into the seats in left. Cleveland's first hit of the afternoon made it a 3-1 game.
While Clevinger stabilized, the game entered the danger zone for Gibson.
Sometime during Gibson's sixth-inning encounter with Cleveland's Francisco Lindor, the game changed on him.
The All-Star shortstop pushed Gibson to his limits with 12-pitch at bat, during which Lindor fouled off seven pitches. Pitch No. 12 was a ball, earning Lindor a walk.
Pitching coach Garvin Alston went to the mound to give Gibson a breather _ while allowing the bullpen to activate. Gibson was at a critical point of the game _ the point where he starts to wear down. The huddle ended, Alston returned to the dugout, and Gibson got Michael Brantley to ground out for the second out of the inning.
Twins manager Paul Molitor then replaced Gibson with Ryan Pressly. Gibson, for the season, has averaged 17 outs a game. The Twins have tried to let him pitch beyond the sixth inning without much success. On Sunday, he was removed after getting 17 outs, once again.
Ryan Pressly, with a tidy 2.15 ERA, entered the game. But he walked Jose Ramirez then Encarnacion belted a 97 miles per hour fastball into the third deck in left for a 430-foot home run and a 4-3 Indians lead. With 15 home runs at Target Field, Encarnacion leads all visiting players.
