Shane Bieber was relaxing in the clubhouse at Triple-A Columbus on Saturday when he received an important message.
The rookie right-hander was needed in the big leagues.
Bieber capped a whirlwind few hours by pitching one-run ball into the sixth inning for his first major league win
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He scattered 10 hits and struck out seven in 5 2/3 innings in his second career start. He was recalled earlier in the day when Carlos Carrasco went on the 10-day disabled list with a bruised right elbow.
”It was hectic,” said Bieber, who was told about his promotion Saturday evening. ”They said go pack what you need and get on the road as soon as possible.”
Catcher Yan Gomes, whose three run-double in the third snapped a 1-all tie, was impressed with the composure a 23-year-old pitcher who began the season at Double-A Akron showed in unusual circumstances.
”The kid has some poise,” Gomes said. ”He knows what he’s doing out there. That’s good to see from such a young guy.”
Tyler Naquin had an RBI single in the second. Cody Allen, the Indians’ third reliever, pitched the ninth for his 14th save in 15 opportunities.
Cleveland salvaged the finale of the three-game series and broke a five-game losing streak against Minnesota.
Twins right-hander Jake Odorizzi (3-4) allowed four runs in five innings. He is winless in seven starts since May 8.
Bieber was scheduled to start for Triple-A Columbus on Sunday, but that plan changed when Carrasco was injured in the second inning of Saturday’s 9-3 loss.
Carrasco’s early exit forced the Indians to use seven pitchers, including Adam Plutko, who was scheduled to start for Cleveland on Sunday. Bieber, instead of preparing to face Indianapolis in the International League, made the 2 1/2 drive from Columbus.
Bieber got an idea a change was coming when he and his teammates were watching the Indians game.
”We saw the bullpen was kind of thin and all of a sudden I see Plutko in the game,” he said. ”Somebody across the clubhouse goes, `who’s supposed to start for us tomorrow?’ All these heads turn and they say, `you might be starting in the big leagues.’ ”
Bieber scrambled to get his father and brother tickets for a red-eye flight from California so they could attend the game.
Eduardo Escobar’s first-inning double gave Minnesota the lead. The Twins were coming off wins over Corey Kluber
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Minnesota had runners on second and third with nobody out in the sixth, but Bieber struck out Mitch Garver and Ehre Adrianza. Oliver Perez struck out Joe Mauer to end the inning.
Escobar doubled in each of his first three at-bats, but Minnesota stranded 10 baserunners and was 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.
”We had chances,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. ”We could have put the ball in play multiple times whether it was just a ground ball or fly ball that was going to get us a point or two, get us closer.”
Bieber made his major league debut at Minnesota on May 31, allowing four runs in 5 2/3 innings. He left with the Indians ahead 8-4, but the bullpen couldn’t hold onto the lead and Cleveland won 9-8.
Michael Brantley hit a leadoff double in the third, and Edwin Encarnacion and Lonnie Chisenhall drew one-out walks. Gomes’ double to the wall in left-center scored all three runners.
NICE REWARD
The Twins won’t get a breather when it comes to facing the top pitchers in the AL in their three-game series against Boston. Minnesota will go against former Cy Young winners Chris Sale, David Price and Rick Porcello, who are a combined 22-8 this season.
NEXT GAME ADDITION
Indians manager Terry Francona said first baseman Yonder Alonso will return to the team Monday. Alonso was placed on the family-medical-emergency list Friday.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Twins: OF Robbie Grossman was removed for a pinch runner in the sixth inning for what was announced as ”heat illness.” Molitor said Grossman felt lightheaded and dizzy.
Indians: Carrasco will have additional tests Monday. … LHP Tyler Olson (strained back muscle) was placed on the 10-day DL. He’s 1-1 with a 7.27 ERA in 28 appearances.
UP NEXT
Twins: RHP Jose Berrios (7-5, 3.51 ERA) will pitch Monday against Boston in the first of a three-game series.
Indians: RHP Trevor Bauer (5-5, 2.69 ERA) will go in the opener of a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox on Monday at Progressive Field.
Fly Eagles Fly.
With the wind and against it.
With Nick Foles engineering several long drives, Jake Elliott converting three field goals, and the defense getting stingy in the tightest spot
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Foles directed brilliant marches of 74 and 80 yards in the second half – one into the whipping wind, the other with it – and Elliott atoned for missing an extra point by converting from 53 yards at the end of the second quarter, 37 and 21 in the second half. Then the Eagles (14-3) held when Atlanta (11-7) got to the 9-yard line with a first down, and to the 2 on fourth down.
When Matt Ryan’s final pass sailed over Julio Jones’ head in the end zone , Philly could celebrate its first playoff victory since the 2008 season.
Next Sunday, the Eagles will host either Minnesota or New Orleans for the conference crown. The Eagles last made the Super Bowl in the 2004 season, losing to New England.
”I mean, we just kept believing in each other,” said Foles, who became the starter when Carson Wentz, a leading MVP contender, injured his knee in December. ”That was it. Our team never wavered, defense did an amazing job, special teams – that’s just been the story this year is that we just all stuck together…”
The Falcons, of course, memorably blew a 28-3 second-half lead to the Patriots in last year’s Super Bowl. They will not get the opportunity to atone for it
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Despite being underdogs as the No. 1 seed, the Eagles showed plenty of moxie.
”Just keep on disrespecting and we’re going to keep proving people wrong,” receiver Alshon Jeffery said.
A masterful 74-yard, 12-play drive on which Foles threw for 70 yards led to Elliott’s 37-yard kick into the wind that made it 12-10. The Eagles then put together their best drive, an 80-yarder covering 14 plays, yet again faltered close to the end zone. Elliott added a 21-yarder with 6:02 remaining after coach Doug Pederson briefly considered going for it on fourth-and-1 at the Atlanta 3.
”It was tricky out there, really gusty,” Elliott said.
Then, as the fans in the Linc held their breath, the Eagles held deep in their territory.
”Man, just stay calm,” said defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, who was a force all day. ”We always talk about that. We’ve been in those situations during the regular season, so we kind of know how to handle those situations, not try to make a play but let the play come to us.”
And the road to the Super Bowl remains through Philly.
WINDY DECISIONS
Falcons coach Dan Quinn could have opted to take the wind in the fourth quarter after deferring on the opening coin toss. Instead, he took the ball to start the second half
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And in the end, Atlanta had to deal with the currents on that final drive, which did include a 20-yard completion to Jones on fourth-and-6.
”It was a tough game for us tonight,” Quinn said, ”and as we go through, we will go back and assess everything we have done.”
ERROR-FILLED HALF
Mistakes hurt the Eagles in the opening half. Jay Ajayi’s fumble and a misplayed punt that bounced off Bryan Braman led to all 10 Atlanta points.
Things began nicely for Philadelphia when safety Brian Poole was tagged with pass interference on a deep pass by Foles that was held up by the wind. But Ajayi fumbled on the next play with Keanu Neal recovering.
Atlanta efficiently mixed runs and passes to drive to Matt Bryant’s 33-yard field goal for an early lead.
Philadelphia got the run game going with Ajayi in the opening period. Then, with the wind in the next quarter, the Eagles kept the Falcons so off-balance Atlanta took two timeouts in three plays.
Receiver Nelson Agholor’s 21-yard run got the ball to the 3, and Foles botched a handoff to Corey Clement. But the quarterback quickly dived on the loose ball and was ruled to have scored. Replay showed otherwise.
Pederson showed no hesitation going for it, and Blount surged in from the 1. Elliott’s missed extra point left it 6-3.
Soon after came Matt Bosher’s punt that took a wicked bounce and hit Braman while he was blocking. From the Philly 18, the Falcons benefited from two penalties before Ryan scrambled from pressure and found Devonta Freeman for a 6-yard TD and a 10-3 lead.
With 46 seconds left in the half, the hosts got lucky. Foles’ errant pass ricocheted off Neal’s hands to Torrey Smith for 20 yards. Jeffery made a long stretch to haul in another throw with 1 second remaining, and Elliott’s 53-yard field goal just made it over the crossbar.
”It was great for momentum,” Foles said. ”Jake did an awesome job of kicking that for us.”
QB NUMBERS
Foles finished a very efficient outing by going 23 of 30 for 246 yards.
Ryan was 22 of 36 for 210 yards on a difficult day to throw. Jones had nine receptions for 101 yards.
UP NEXT
Philadelphia will host either Minnesota or New Orleans next Sunday night for the NFC title.
Atlanta’s season ends after a wild-card berth and a win at Los Angeles before Saturday’s defeat.
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