me 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on th

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians looked like a first-place team Thursday.Carlos Santana hit a three-run homer, Francisco Lindor added a two-run shot and the AL Central leaders salvaged the finale of a four-game series with Minnesota 9-2.The Indians were outscored 35-16 by the last-place Twins in the first three games. Cleveland is 5-8 against Minnesota and 26-8 against the rest of the division.They were the best team in baseball these past three days, Lindor said. It was unreal watching them. Im glad theyre out of here.Indians manager Terry Francona was relieved to see his team take an early 4-0 lead, powered by Santanas home run in the third and Jason Kipnis solo shot in the first.We had gotten beat around the ballpark for three days, Francona said. It definitely felt good.Santana homered off Hector Santiago (10-5), who made his first start with the Twins since being acquired from the Angels on Monday.Lindor homered in Clevelands three-run seventh. Kipins hit his career-high 18th home run and Jose Ramirez added a solo homer in the eighth.Dan Otero (3-1), who worked out of a fifth-inning jam, retired all four hitters he faced. Andrew Miller, acquired from the Yankees on Sunday, struck out three in 1 1/3 innings.The Indians traded four minor leaguers for Miller, one of the most dominating relievers in baseball. The left-hander struck out Byron Buxton to end the sixth. He whiffed Joe Mauer, who homered off Miller on Monday, and Max Kepler in the seventh.Clevelands starting pitchers worked a combined 8 1/3 innings over the first three games. A total of 14 relievers pitched 18 2/3 innings and the overworked bullpen forced Francona to use Miller in the sixth.That wont happen a lot, Francona said. This is a little bit of a unique situation. To wait didnt seem to make sense.Brian Dozier hit a leadoff homer in the fifth for Minnesota, which scored in double figures in the first three games.Rajai Davis stole second and third before scoring on a wild pitch in the seventh.Santiago had won seven straight decisions and lost for the first time since June 10, also to the Indians. The left-hander was acquired in a four-player deal that sent pitcher Ricky Nolasco to Los Angeles.It was a pretty good game for six innings, and I thought we were right in it until things fell apart, Twins manager Paul Molitor said.Rookie Mike Clevinger, recalled before the game, allowed two runs in 4 1/3 innings.The win moved Cleveland three games ahead of Detroit in the Central.Theres no point in rushing, Lindor said. There are a lot of gams left.ROSTER NEWSThe Indians claimed utilityman Michael Martinez off waivers from Boston. Hell be added to the 25-man roster before Fridays game in New York.Clevinger and left-hander Ryan Merritt were called up from Triple-A Columbus.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: Third-baseman Trevor Plouffe (broken left rib) is expected to be recalled Monday from his rehab assignment at Triple-A Rochester.UP NEXTTwins: RHP Ervin Santana will open a three-game series in Tampa Bay. He went six innings, allowing one earned run, in winning his last start July 31 against the White Sox.Indians: RHP Josh Tomlin, pitching on extended five days rest, takes the mound to begin a three-game series at the Yankees. He is 6-1 with a 2.75 ERA on the road this season. Clearance Hockey Jerseys Store . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. Cheap Arizona Coyotes Jerseys China . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. Making his first appearance since injuring his wrist a month ago, Del Potro had difficulty with his service games in the first set. http://www.cheaphockeychina.com/ . Westbrook has missed 27 games since having a procedure on Dec. 27 to deal with swelling in his injured right knee — the third operation on the knee in nine months. Hockey Jerseys China . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. Cheap Buffalo Sabres Jerseys China . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. HOUSTON -- R.A. Dickeys knuckleball was working Tuesday night, and the Blue Jays got just enough offense to pull out a win.Dickey threw seven solid innings, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion homered and Toronto beat the Houston Astros 2-1.Dickey (8-12) allowed a run and six hits with five strikeouts.A lot of swing and miss, Toronto manager John Gibbons said. He had good life on his knuckleball. Its one of those things that it comes and goes with him. He was aggressive with it and he threw a ton of strikes. Thats the key.He had allowed 18 runs -17 earned -- over his last three starts, all losses.Dickey said he was on top of a lot of knuckleballs Tuesday night, with different movement and different speeds.Ive been feeling great, Dickey said. Ive been feeling strong. My knuckleball velocities have been great, and I have been able to change speeds a lot. I think one of the differences tonight was fairly dramatic for me was just my command with it.Bautista hit his 300th career homer in the third to put Toronto up 1-0.Its always a friendly reminder that youve been doing this a long time and enjoyed some success, Bautista said about the milestone. You get happy about that. No doubt, but right now I think we have more important things to worry about. Ill get to enjoy that in the offseason.Encarnacion launched his 29th home run to lead off the fourth -- a monstrous shot that bounced off the railroad tracks at Minute Maid Park before landing in left field.Danny Barnes pitched the eighth before Jason Grilli pitched the ninth for his second save with Toronto and his fourth overall. The win snapped Torontos eight-game losing streak at Houston.Evan Gattis cut the lead to 2-1 with an RBI single in the seventh. Jose Altuve had three hits for Houston, which lost for the fourth time in five games.We have been in an offensive lull for a few games now, Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. Obviously, Dickey had his good knuckleball going tonight, and his ball was moving all over the place. The hitters werre coming back and remarking on how much action he had on his pitches.ddddddddddddLance McCullers (6-5) allowed two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings before leaving with discomfort in his right elbow. He will be evaluated Wednesday.We dont really know, McCullers said about the injury. Were just going to follow protocol and take it step by step and see where we are tomorrow. I felt a little discomfort, and out of precaution, I just had to get out of there.McCullers was replaced by Joe Musgrove, who struck out eight in 4 1/3 shutout innings. The eight strikeouts tied a major league record for strikeouts by a reliever making his big league debut set by Barry Jones for the Pirates on April 20, 1986.TRAINERS ROOMBlue Jays: SS Troy Tulowitzki (thumb) swung off a tee Tuesday and was feeling better, Gibbons said.Astros: RHP Luke Gregerson was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 28 with a left oblique strain. The Astros recalled IF A.J. Reed from Triple-A Fresno. ... OF Carlos Gomez (right hamstring) was back in the lineup Tuesday after missing the last four games. He went 1 for 4.ROSTER MOVESBlue Jays: Toronto recalled RHP Mike Bolsinger, who was acquired Monday from the Dodgers, and Barnes from Triple-A Buffalo. The Blue Jays optioned INF Ryan Goins and RHP Bo Schultz to Buffalo.Astros: Houston will recall RHP James Hoyt from Triple-A Fresno on Wednesday, and RHP Doug Fister will go on the three-day paternity list.UP NEXTBlue Jays: RHP Marco Estrada (6-4) will look for his second straight win Wednesday in the third of four games against the Astros. Estrada allowed four runs in his last outing Friday against Baltimore, the most runs he had allowed since May 14 when he was tagged for five runs.Astros: RHP Collin McHugh (7-7) will look to rebound after being tagged for eight runs on 10 hits in 1 2/3 innings Friday at Detroit. ' ' '