The Indians moderately long regional nightmare is over: they played the Twins today. They won 6-2. And they ended the 11 game losing streak.
They can certainly thank their Opening Day starter and their biggest bat: Justin Masterson went seven innings allowing two runs on three hits and Shin-Soo Choo went 4 for 4 with two driven in. But they can also thank opposing second baseman Tsuyoshi Nishioka, who had a hand in four of the Indians six runs.
Nishioka committed an error on an ill-advised glove flip of a ball behind the bag, lost a routine pop fly in the sun despite it not being that sunny and despite wearing sunglasses, having it fall in for a double. He also made an awful throw to the plate. He was recalled from Triple-A on Monday, and since then he has made three errors, multiple misplays that weren’t scored as such and is 0 for 12 with a sacrifice fly. Twins broadcasters were openly derisive of his play during this game. We may have seen the last of him.
Regardless, congratulations Indians. Your streak of awfulness has ended. At least for a day.