MINNESOTA 6, CLEVELAND 3 IN CLEVELAND

Date:  Wednesday, June 23.

Batting stars:  Sandy Valdespino was 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, a stolen base (his third), and a walk.  Jimmie Hall was 2-for-4 with a home run (his thirteenth), scoring twice.  Bob Allison was 1-for-3 with a three-run homer, his twelfth.

Pitching star:  Mudcat Grant pitched eight innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk with five strikeouts.

Opposition stars:  Rocky Colavito was 2-for-3 with a home run (his sixteenth), a double, and a walk.  Don McMahon pitched two perfect innings of relief with one strikeout.  Max Alvis was 1-for-4 with a run.

The game:  Hall and Colavito each homered in the second to make it 1-1.  Vic Davalillo singled in a run in the third to give the Indians a 2-1 lead.  It was short-lived, as Allison hit a pinch-hit three-run homer in the fourth to put the Twins up 4-2 and Valdespino hit a two-run shot in the fifth to make it 6-2.  The Indians did not score again until the ninth.  They brought the tying run up to bat with one out in the ninth inning, but Dick Stigman got Joe Azcue to hit into a double play to end the game.

Of note:  Zoilo Versalles was 0-for-3.  Tony Oliva was 0-for-4.  Harmon Killebrew was 0-for-3 with a walk and a run.

Record:  The win made the Twins 39-24 and increased their lead over Chicago to a full game.

Notes:  Hall raised his average to .330.  Valdespino's home run was his only homer of the season.  The game started with Don Mincher at first, Killebrew at third, and Valdespino in left.  After Allison pinch-hit for Mincher in the fourth, he initially went to first base.  In the eighth, however, Rich Rollins came in to play third, with Killebrew moving to first and Allison to left, replacing Valdespino.  Indians starter Sonny Siebert apparently suffered a minor injury, as he was replaced in the third inning for no apparent reason.  He would pitch three innings of relief in his next appearance, June 27, and then throw a complete game July 1.