MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Nelson Cruz hit a three-run homer shortly after Cleveland right fielder Josh Naylor was carted off the field following a frightening collision with a teammate, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Indians 8-2 on Sunday.
Cleveland manager Terry Francona said Naylor had suffered a broken bone, but didn’t say which one, and was being treated at a hospital.
Naylor and rookie second baseman Ernie Clement chased a popup in short right field in the fourth inning on a ball hit by Jorge Polanco. Naylor went flying after the collision and had his right foot catch underneath him, twisting the foot the wrong way.
Naylor writhed on the ground in pain and teammates immediately called for medical attention. His foot was placed in an air cast and he was taken off the field on a stretcher.
Clement, playing his seventh game in the majors, had the ball glance off his glove for a single. He had a cut on his chin.
Play resumed after a 12-minute delay and Justin Garza relieved for his major league debut. Two batters later, Cruz hit his 434th career homer, tying him with Juan Gonzalez and Andruw Jones for 47th on the all-time list.
Andrelton Simmons and Josh Donaldson also homered for Minnesota, which has won seven of nine games and won the series 2-1 against Cleveland after Saturday’s game was postponed due to rain.
J.A. Happ (4-3) bounced back with six strong innings. He allowed two runs on six hits, striking out seven. In his previous eight starts, covering 36 2/3 innings, he had surrendered 38 earned runs.
Minnesota native Sam Hentges (1-2) took the loss for Cleveland. He gave up six runs on six hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings.
The 6-foot-6 left-hander was a fourth-round draft pick by the Indians in 2014 out of Mounds View High School, approximately 12 miles northeast of Target Field.
Rene Rivera homered for Cleveland, which has lost five of eight.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Twins: RHP Michael Pineda will make a rehab start with Triple-A St. Paul this week as he recovers from right elbow inflammation. He threw a simulated game on Saturday.
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