Both attendance and defensive performance were lackluster during the Indian’s Sunday game against the Minnesota Twins. Despite tying the season record with four errors in the game (and an overall five errors committed between both teams), the Indians were able to win on a score of 2-1 over the Twins thanks to a late-game rally in the bottom of the eighth inning including a solo home run from Drew Stubbs.

Left-handed pitcher Scott Kazmir started for the Tribe and pitched a much-improved outing, throwing six innings and allowing only one run.

He struck out the side to start the game, a feat that was returned by Twins starter Mike Pelfrey.

A base hit by Ryan Doumit led off the second inning, though Kazmir kept Doumit at first throughout the inning. Chris Colabello, replacing Joe Mauer during his time on the disabled list, struck out swinging to end the inning. Asdrubal Cabrera delivered a two-out single in the second inning to keep the inning alive for the Indians following a strike out called on Carlos Santana and a ground out from Michael Brantley. However, Yan Gomes flew out to center field to end the inning.

Pedro Florimon delivered a hard-hit double in the third inning, but Kazmir also delivered his fifth strikeout to end the inning and keep the score at 0-0.

The Indians threatened with runners at first and second with two outs in the third. Jason Kipnis delivered a bloop single to left field, scoring Michael Bourn and sending Nick Swisher to second to give the Indians a 1-0 lead in the third. Santana ended the inning with a ground out.

Josh Willingham hit a hard double to left to start the fourth inning and was caught in a sloppy rundown after a hit from Trevor Plouffe. Asdrubal Cabrera threw to Lonnie Chisenhall to throw Willingham out at third, but dropped the ball before the throw, resulting in an error and Willingham’s advance to third. Plouffe reached second during the play. Despite runners at second and third, Kazmir struck out Colabello to end the inning and keep the Indians ahead 1-0.

Clete Thomas led off the fifth inning with a line drive single, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt from Florimon and to third on a single from Brian Dozier. He scored on a bunt single from Doug Bernier, bringing the score to 1-1. More sloppy play from the Indians sent Dozier to third on a throwing error from Kazmir that had the ball going through Kipnis’ legs during a pickoff attempt. Despite Kazmir issuing a walk to Doumit and sending Bernier to second, he was able to get out of the inning without any more runs scoring after a line out hit from Plouffe. The Indians entered the bottom of the fifth with the game tied at 1-1.

Drew Stubbs walked to lead off the fifth inning and made it into second on a steal attempt and throwing error on the pickoff attempt by Mike Pelfrey. After also walking Swisher to put runners at second and third with one out, Pelfrey gave up a base hit to Kipnis. Swisher was thrown out at second, but Santana came to the plate with runners in scoring position and two outs. Pelfrey walked his third batter of the inning with Santana. The inning ended after a ground out from Michael Brantley.

Despite the Twins second lead off double of the game, the sixth inning did not allow for more runs on the board. Josh Roenicke, who replaced Pelfrey in the sixth, struck out two batters but allowed Chisenhall to reach first on a wild pitch. He walked Stubbs, but no runners made it home.

With Cody Allen replacing Kazmir in the seventh, the sloppy play continued. Allen walked the first batter he saw in Dozier, who reached second on a throwing error from Allen. A bunt from Bernier sent Dozier to third. Bernier should have been out on the bunt, but Swisher bobbled the ball and fell, allowing Bernier to reach first. The Twins had runners at the corners with no outs with Willingham at the plate. Allen worked his way out of the inning, with a pop out from Willingham and two strike outs on Doumit and Plouffe.

Swisher began the bottom of the seventh with a hard hit to right field, but was tagged out on the throw to second. Caleb Thielbar replaced Roenicke following Swisher’s at bat and promptly walked Kipnis. He gave up a base hit to Santana, but the Indians again stranded two runners on base.

The Indians had their fourth error of the game in the eighth inning when a hit from Justin Morneau bounced off the glove of Kipnis, allowing for a single off Joe Smith. A single from Florimon advanced Morneau to second when Kipnis did not reach the bag in time to tag him out. Dozier popped out to end the inning, keeping the score tied 1-1 headed into the bottom of the inning.

Stubbs delivered his solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to give the Indians a one-run lead with two outs. Stubbs’ run boosted the team, as it was followed by a double from Bourn and a single from Swisher that scored Bourn. The Indians entered the ninth inning with a 3-1 lead over the Twins.

Chris Perez entered the game for the Tribe, walking one batter but striking out Plouffe to end the game. The Indians took two out of three games from the Twins during the series.

The Indians have an off-day on Monday and will travel to Atlanta to face the Braves on Tuesday the 27. Danny Salazar (1-1, 3.52) will start, going against LHP Alex Wood (2-2, 2.50).

Photo: Mark Duncan/AP Photo