CLEVELAND _ Shane Bieber turned in a solid performance on the mound and Yan Gomes continued his torrid June at the plate with the key hit to spark the Indians to a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday at Progressive Field.
Bieber tossed 5 2/3 solid innings _ allowing one run on 10 hits and a walk and striking out seven _ for his first major league win and help the Indians avoid a sweep at the hands of the Twins. He was recalled for Sunday's game to take the place of Adam Plutko, who was scheduled to start but had to pitch two innings in relief Saturday after Carlos Carrasco was hit by a line drive and knocked out of the game.
Bieber (1-0) became just the fourth pitcher in franchise history to record at least six strikeouts in each of his first two career appearances, joining Herb Score in 1955, Luis Tiant in 1964 and Danny Salazar in 2013.
With the score tied at 1 in the third against Twins starter Jake Odorizzi, the Indians loaded the bases for Gomes, who entered the game hitting .324 in June with a 1.066 OPS. Gomes came through again, ripping a bases-clearing double to center field to give the Indians a 4-1 lead that they never relinquished.
Oliver Perez, Neil Ramirez and Cody Allen combined to throw 3 1/3 scoreless innings, ending with Allen recording his 14th save of the season.
