7

Final 1 2 3   4 5 6   7 8 9   R H E Minnesota 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 7 12 0 Cleveland 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 4 9 0

4

  W: B. Duensing (1-2)   L: J. Tomlin (2-3)   S: M. Capps (11)

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Twins-Indians Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE

(AP) -- The Cleveland Indians are missing a number of key bats in their lineup. They still showed plenty of pop in their last game against the AL's worst team.

Cleveland goes for a fourth consecutive victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night when the Central Division rivals meet at Progressive Field.

Travis Hafner and Jack Hannahan are on the disabled list and Carlos Santana isn't expected back in the lineup until next week, so the Indians (28-23) will have to lean on others as they try get back on track after falling from the top spot in the Central earlier this week.

Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall led the way in Friday's 7-1 victory, with Kipnis hitting his first career grand slam and Chisenhall going 3 for 4 with a two-run homer.

Cleveland had dropped five of six before winning for the 11th time in 12 meetings versus Minnesota, which entered the series on a three-game win streak.

"I've been fortunate to have it going good this season, but I'm sure some other guys will be picking it up soon and hopefully they'll catch me," said Kipnis, the team leader with nine homers, 34 RBIs, 12 steals, 58 hits and 35 runs.

Chisenhall is well on his way, going 5 for 13 with two homers and three RBIs in four games since being called up from Triple-A Columbus to replace Hannahan.

The Indians will give the ball to Josh Tomlin (2-2, 4.99 ERA) on Saturday. In his first start since a stint on the DL with right wrist soreness, the right-hander allowed four runs in five innings of Monday's 8-5 home win over Kansas City.

"I felt fine, like I could have kept going," Tomlin said after his 81-pitch outing.

He'll face the Twins (18-33) for the first time this season after going 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in three starts against them in 2011.

Minnesota counters with P.J. Walters, who faces Cleveland for the first time.

The right-hander is 2-1 with a 2.96 ERA in four starts since being called up from Triple-A Rochester to replace injured starter Nick Blackburn. Walters is hoping for better control after walking a career-high five in six innings while not receiving a decision in Sunday's 4-3 loss to Detroit.

"I was kind of all over the place today," he told the Twins' official website.

Walters will be getting his first look at a couple of hot Indians hitters. Michael Brantley is batting .368 (14 for 38) with eight RBIs during a 10-game hitting streak, and Kipnis is hitting .390 (16 for 41) with three homers and 10 RBIs in his last 10 games.

Kipnis and Chisenhall combined to go 5 for 8 with a homer and three RBIs in Tomlin's last start.

Three-time AL batting champ Joe Mauer, hitless in his last 10 at-bats, is expected to make his fourth consecutive start at designated hitter or play first base for Minnesota on Saturday.

Twins catcher Ryan Doumit matched a season high Friday with three hits. He's 5 for 11 with a homer and two RBIs in the three losses to Cleveland in 2012 while his teammates are batting .146 (12 for 82) with two RBIs.

Updated June 1, 2012