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  Monday, May 8 8:05pm ET
Cleveland 3, Minnesota 2
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) _ Brad Radke isn't getting any support, either from the Minnesota Twins' batters or their fans.

Radke had his fifth quality start of the season, but got another no-decision in the Twins' 3-2 loss to the Cleveland Indians in 10 innings Monday night before a quiet Metrodome crowd of just 7,309.

Things should get better for Radke before they do for the Twins.

The 27-year-old right-hander who refused a contract extension this winter is likely to find himself as the biggest name on the trading block by July.

The Twins are scoring fewer than three runs per start for Radke.

"I'm pitching on the wrong days," Radke said.

And maybe for the wrong team.

Radke had his best stuff to go with a big strike zone, and still came up empty in his duel with Dave Burba.

"It was a good game to watch," Radke said.

For a pitcher, maybe.

Umpire John Hirschbeck lived up to his reputation of having a very liberal strike zone.

"There were some weird calls. It looked like he wanted to speed up the game," said Omar Vizquel, who scored the winning run.

There were 26 strikeouts altogether, including a season-high 10 by Burba and a season-best nine by Radke.

"He likes to keep the game moving," Radke said. "He likes guys to swing the bats. That's the way it should be."

Twins manager Tom Kelly said he knew the teams were in for a wide strike zone when Hirschbeck came out with the home-plate gear on instead of Charlie Williams, as scheduled.

"Obviously, it changes the game," Kelly said. "There's no secret he's got a wide zone. It's the same for both teams."

Kelly said he did not know why Hirschbeck was behind the plate instead of Williams. The crew didn't address the switch before leaving the ballpark.

Nine of the strikeouts were called, including Jacque Jones to end the game.

"Everybody in the league knows he's got a bigger zone than anybody else," Radke said. "So, I don't think anybody's going to complain."

Burba is going to kick himself, however.

He starting nibbling on the corners in the eighth when he didn't have to, and lost his 2-0 lead and a chance at his second career shutout.

"I got a little defensive, starting picking corners instead of being aggressive like I was early in the game," said Burba, who walked two batters who came around to tie the score at 2.

In the 10th, Bob Wells (0-3) had two strikes on Manny Ramirez when he poked a single up the middle, scoring Vizquel, who doubled.

Ricardo Rincon (2-0) got the victory, striking out the only batter he faced _ Corey Koskie looking _ to end the ninth with runners at first and second.

Steve Karsay pitched the 10th for his seventh save, ending it with a wicked breaking ball that buckled Jones' knees for strike three.

Roberto Alomar homered, and his brother, Sandy, a six-time All-Star catcher, returned from the 15-day disabled list, called a superb game and doubled his first time up.

Sandy Alomar, hitting .310 when he pulled his right hamstring last month, doubled with two outs in the second and scored on Jolbert Cabrera's single for a 1-0 lead.

Roberto Alomar led off the fifth with his fifth homer.

As for another meager crowd, Radke just shrugged.

"I don't blame them," he said. "They want to see a winner, everybody does."

Notes: The Indians won their third in a row following a six-game losing streak. ... Twins third baseman Jason Maxwell left the game after straining his left quadriceps muscle while running out a ground ball in the fifth. He'll be examined today to determine if he needs to go on the DL. Cleveland is 3-0 in extra innings, the Twins 1-3.

 


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Cleveland 3
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Chicago Cubs 12
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