(Sports Network) - Righty Zach McAllister tries to reverse the result of an
ugly last meeting with the Minnesota Twins tonight when the Cleveland Indians
resume a four-game series at Target Field.
A 24-year-old from Chillicothe, Ill., McAllister faced the Twins for the only
time in his career on Aug. 6 and was chased after just 1 2/3 innings, allowing
nine runs -- seven unearned -- on six hits in a 14-3 loss.
He bounced back for a win in his subsequent start against Boston five days
later, going eight innings and allowing two runs on three hits for a 5-2
triumph.
McAllister is 0-2 in four starts since the defeat of the Red Sox, allowing 31
hits and 17 runs in 21 1/3 innings. He is 2-2 in six road starts this season
with a 3.93 earned run average across 36 2/3 innings.
Taking the ball for Minnesota will be rookie Cole De Vries, who meets the
Indians for the first time in his 17th big-league appearance.
The 27-year-old has won two consecutive starts to get within one victory of
.500, downing Texas and Kansas City on the road while pitching 11 2/3 innings
and giving up three runs on 10 hits.
The wins have trimmed De Vries's ERA, which had been 5.04 three starts ago, to
just 4.41 after 81 2/3 total innings.
The Twins have won four of the last seven games he's pitched.
On Friday, Michael Brantley drove home the go-ahead run during a three-run
seventh inning and the Indians held on for a 7-6 victory.
Russ Canzler went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and three RBI, Shin-Soo Choo
had an RBI single among his three hits and Cord Phelps contributed a pinch-hit
RBI for the Indians, who have won three of their last four.
David Huff (1-0) earned the win with 3 1/3 innings of relief work behind
starter Jeanmar Gomez, who allowed four runs on three hits and three walks
over three innings.
"It was a good comeback win," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "I think David
saved the day for us. He came in and shut them down and gave us a chance to
come back and win the ball game."
Josh Willingham drove in three runs, while Ben Revere, Justin Morneau and
Chris Parmelee each added an RBI for the Twins, who fell for the fourth time
in their last five games.
Tyler Robertson (1-2) was tagged with the loss after yielding two runs -- one
earned -- on a pair of walks in one inning of relief work.
The Twins won seven of the first 11 games between the teams in 2012, including
two of three in a series in Cleveland from Aug. 6 to 8. The Indians won 11 of
18 games in the season series in 2011.
The Sports Network