CLEVELAND _ Offensive slumps within a baseball season can be infuriating for teams. Breaking out of them, even for a day, can be like a breath of fresh air.
The Indians got plenty of the latter on Mother's Day, finding their missing offensive firepower and throttling the Minnesota Twins, 8-3, at Progressive Field.
Manager Terry Francona decided to shake up the lineup prior to Sunday's game, sliding Jason Kipnis into the leadoff spot and slotting Carlos Santana fifth. That move paid immediate dividends.
Jason Kipnis led off the first inning with a solo home run to center field, his first home run of the season, and the Indians kept pouring it on against Twins starter Hector Santiago.
Daniel Robertson, promoted to the majors on Sunday morning in place of the injured Brandon Guyer, put the Indians on top 2-0 with an RBI-single to center field in his first at-bat with the Indians. Lonnie Chisenhall followed with a two-run home run, his third of the year, to make it 4-0.
In the third, both regulars who were moved in the lineup went deep. Santana led off the inning with a line-drive home run to left field. Later, Kipnis added a three-run home run to right field, giving him three hits _ including his single in the second inning _ and four RBI in the first three innings as the leadoff hitter this season.
The Indians had totaled six hits and one run in the first two games combined in their series with the Twins before racking up eight runs in the first three innings on Sunday.
Trevor Bauer cruised while holding that lead, allowing three runs on seven hits and striking out seven in six innings pitched.
