Twins win third straight over Indians, 3-1

Max Kepler added two doubles and scored twice and Jorge Polanco had two hits and an RBI for the Twins, who increased their American League Central Division lead to 2 ½ games over the Indians.

Devin Smeltzer (1-0), the second Minnesota pitcher, picked up the victory, allowing one run on two hits over 2 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out two. Sergio Romo pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to garner his second save.

Aaron Civale (1-1) took the loss despite tying his career-high with nine strikeouts. Civale allowed three runs on five hits in six innings and didn't walk a batter.

Minnesota took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Kepler led off with a ground-rule double down the right field line and scored on a bloop single to left by Polanco.

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Garver made it 2-0 in the second when he led off with his first home run of the season, a 412-foot line drive into the seats in left-center. Nelson Cruz picked up his 12th RBI of the season an inning later to extend the lead to 3-0, driving in Kepler who had doubled off the wall in right.

The Indians snapped a 15-inning scoreless drought in the fourth when Cesar Hernandez led off with a double and scored one out later on a Francisco Lindor single that one-hopped the left field fence. Lindor was then thrown out by Eddie Rosario trying to stretch the hit into a double.

Minnesota pitchers combined to hold the Indians to just four runs on 16 hits in the four-game series.

Cleveland manager Terry Francona returned to the team's hotel prior to the game with a minor gastrointestinal issue that the team said was not related to COVID-19. First base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. took over managing duties for the contest.