The Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS–The return for Michael Brantley to the middle of Cleveland’s lineup has seen some promising early returns.
The multi-skilled Indians left-fielder is cautiously content.
Danny Salazar finished six innings strong after a shaky start, and Brantley homered and drove in two runs, as the Indians beat the Minnesota Twins 3-1 last night.
Salazar (1-1) struck out seven and retired 15 of his last 18 batters.
Brantley’s groundout tied it in the third before Edwin Encarnacion’s single gave the reigning AL champions the lead on their way to only their third win in 10 games.
Brantley took Kyle Gibson (0-2) deep on a four-seam fastball left over the plate in the fifth inning.
“He looks like Brantley, which is a big compliment to him and his work ethic,” said Indians’ manager Terry Francona.
“It’s one thing to come back, but you’ve got to still hit major-league pitching and he really doesn’t look like he missed a beat.”
Brantley hurt his right shoulder in Minnesota on Sept. 22, 2015 after diving for a ball.
He had surgery but never completely healed, and later needed an operation on his right biceps and was limited to just 11 games in 2016.
He’s hitting .268 with two doubles, two homers, and eight RBIs in 11 games this season.
“I’m getting there,” Brantley said. “Let’s put it that way.
“It’s going to take some repetition,” he conceded. “It’s going to take some time.”
Cody Allen loaded the bases in the ninth on a carefully-pitched walk to Miguel Sano, but completed his third save in three attempts by getting Joe Mauer to fly out to centre.
The Twins left 12 runners left on base.
Salazar allowed five hits and one walk over a seven-batter stretch spanning the first two innings, with the only run allowed on Eddie Rosario’s single with none out in the second.
“If they get three or four there, it might be too much,” Francona admitted.
“But he kept them in check and really battled, which was good to see.”
Elsewhere in the AL, Boston edged Tampa Bay 4-3, New York beat Chicago 7-4, Houston blanked L.A. 3-0, and Texas dumped Oakland 7-0.
Over in the NL, St. Louis nipped Pittsburgh 2-1, Atlanta topped San Diego 5-4, Milwaukee beat Chicago 6-3, and Arizona doubled L.A. 4-2.
Seattle beat Miami 6-1 in interleague play.
