CLEVELAND – The Twins, taking advantage of a decisive game in the seventh inning, fought to beat the Indian 5-3 on Friday.

Replay that changes the game, in fact.

Max Kepler appeared to have grounded to end the heat with a 3-1 loss to the Twins and extend the team's recent failures against the runners in the lead position. But the twins challenged the decision and won. Miguel Sano scored a third to get the Twins in a race, then Jorge Polanco shot a double from the center of two points.

Mitch Garver added a home run in the eighth end and Taylor Rogers got a six-run out while the Twins won the first game of a three-game series at Progressive Field. Cleveland has won six straight games, including 21 out of 29, in less than 5½ games against the Twins in the AHL. But the Twins eventually broke through the Indian server.

"I think we can name a lot of different guys tonight who have done some good things in tough situations," said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. "In difficult circumstances."

Twins can also refer to technology.

Before the seventh inning, the Twins were unable to convert to scoring situations – again. They were 14-in-57 (.246) with the riders in scoring position in the six games leading up to the All Star Break, mostly backed by an 8-on-16 blast on July 5 against Texas. Remove that, and the Twins hit 0.170 in such situations.

In the first six heats on Friday, the Twins were 0-in-6 with the riders on the base. But with the men in first and third place in the seventh, Kepler hit a gifted bouncer by Francisco Lindor, who pitched in first.

Kepler said it was safe. The first base umpire, Ron Kulpa, waved and the Indians started to leave the field.

Not so fast.

The twins challenged Kulpa's decision. One minute and 42 seconds later, the call was canceled.

"Kep is doing well and has somehow forced us to challenge ourselves," Baldelli said. "Honestly, the situation of the game here puts you in a place. Even if you are really not sure, you will probably have to challenge the game and give yourself a chance. "

That brought Polanco to the plate, and the All-Star shortstop made the field player at the center of the Indians, Oscar Mercado, with his shot that hit the wall, marking Ehire Adrianza and Kepler.

"I knew I had hit him well since I hit him from the barrel," Polanco said. "I thought it was going to hit the wall."

Zack Littell had the victory in relief.

The Twins took a 1-0 lead in Nelson Cruz's first run to center on Indian starter Mike Clevinger. It was Cruz's 377th lap, tying Norm Cash and Jeff Kent to 77th.

Right-handed twins Kyle Gibson led the lead to fourth place before collapsing. He gave his first goal to Carlos Santana and made 20 shots before recording an exit. Adrianza contributed to the mess by making a pitching mistake that put the runners in first and third place.

Gibson had the chance to escape with only the circuit of his record, but Roberto Perez doubled in two sets, giving Cleveland a 3-1 lead.

Eventually, the Twins continued to press the question and the rewind button, until their fortunes changed and they strengthened their lead in the division.

"I think that, more importantly, winning the series would somehow deprive them of their momentum and start going back," said Gibson. "So winning the first match is certainly a big part of that."