MINNEAPOLIS -- The Cleveland Indians will try and take the momentum gained during an 8-2 homestand and carry it to the road when they begin a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Friday night at Target Field.Cleveland owns the second-best record in the American League and leads the Central Division by six games over the Detroit Tigers but has struggled against last place Minnesota this season. The Twins, who own the worst record in baseball (52-88) and have won just three times in their last 20 games, are 8-8 against the Indians.Minnesota is 10-34 against the other three teams in the Central Division.The Indians, meanwhile, salvaged a split against the Houston Astros in a 10-7 win at Progressive Field. The victory allowed Cleveland to push its lead one-half game further ahead of idle Detroit, which welcomes the Baltimore Orioles to Comerica Park on Friday.Weve got to win the homefield advantage, said Indians slugger Mike Napoli. Were still a game and a half behind Texas for that. So every game is still important for us. Were not letting down. Detroit is a good team. They are not out of it. Ive seen leads shrink quick. Our goal is to have the best record in the American League.Minnesota came back to steal a win over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday to take the finale of a three-game series. The Twins were in danger of dropping to 2-5 during the first seven games of a 10-game, 11-day homestand, but instead, have a chance to post a winning record during that stretch if they can continue their winning ways against the Indians.The Twins are hoping to see a continued resurgence from rookie outfielder Byron Buxton, who has been red-hot since being recalled from Triple-A Rochester last week. Buxton has four doubles, four homers, 10 RBI and 10 runs in seven games since his recall.I feel more comfortable, Buxton said. I still have learning to do but I feel confident, feel prepared and I feel ready.Danny Salazar will continue his efforts to round back into form in the series opener for Cleveland. The right-hander has a 2.45 ERA over his last two starts while striking out 21 batters in just 11 innings.Tyler Duffey will start for the first time since Aug. 24 after a brief stint in Rochester. The right-hander has struggled in Minnesota this season to the tune of a 6.24 ERA in 115 1/3 innings. Duffey allowed five runs on eight hits in six innings his last time against the Indians, earning the victory on Aug. 3 at Progressive Field. Custom Rangers Jersey China . Jay Feely kicked a 41-yard field goal in overtime, and the Cardinals edged the Tennessee Titans 37-34 in overtime after blowing a 17-point lead late in the fourth quarter. Cheap Custom Rangers Jersey . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to increase her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament. http://www.custommlbrangersjersey.com/ . The Canadian squad, skipped by Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg, got on the board first with two in the second end, and followed that with two more apiece in the fourth and sixth ends. Custom Ivan Rodriguez Jersey . Zvonareva, who won the tournament in 2009 and 10, couldnt handle her opponents big groundstrokes in only her third event back after 17 months out with a shoulder injury. Zvonareva made her comeback in January in Shenzhen and played in the Australian Open but lost her first matches at both tournaments. Custom Rangers Jerseys . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. SEOUL, South Korea -- Fifth-seeded Monica Niculescu of Romania defeated Zhang Shuai of China 6-0, 6-4 on Saturday to advance to the final of the Korea Open.The 28-year-old Niculescu, playing in her first event since reaching the third round of the U.S. Open, won seven of 12 break points on her way to a 74-minute win over third-seeded Zhang.Niculescu will face Lara Arruabarrena of Spaain in Sundays final.dddddddddddd. Arruabarrena defeated Patricia Maria Tig 6-1, 6-2, ending hopes of an all-Romanian final.The 22-year-old Arruabarrena advanced to the semifinals after dispatching second-seeded Johanna Larsson of Sweden in straight sets. ' ' '
