CLEVELAND, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Jason Kipnes capped a big sixth inning with a two-run single Saturday and Cleveland went on to down Minnesota 8-2 in the first game of a doubleheader.
With the game tied 2-2, the Indians exploded for six runs in the sixth, sending 10 men to the plate while banging out six of their nine hits.
Kipnes began the frame by drawing a lead-off walk from Francisco Liriano (9-10), who recorded only one out after coming on in relief of starter Brian Duensing, yielding five runs on two hits and a pair of walks.
Shelley Duncan, Matt LaPorta, Jack Hannahan and Kosuke Fukudome all drove in runs during the big frame before Kipnes came up again and delivered a two-run hit.
Zach Putnam (1-1) earned the win in relief of Tribe starter David Huff, who allowed two runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 frames.
Duensing surrendered a pair of runs on three hits over five innings for the Twins, who dropped their seventh straight to Cleveland.
