CLEVELAND -- If only Minnesota played Cleveland more often, the Twins would be true contenders this season.Despite a 6-21 record against the rest of the AL Central, Minnesota moved to 8-4 against the Indians with a 13-5 win on Wednesday night.You have to enjoy these things when they come along, manager Paul Molitor said. We know they can go the converse way as well.Minnesota has outscored Cleveland 35-16 and has outhit the Indians 46-27 over the first three games of the series.Hitting is contagious and guys are having good at-bats from top to bottom, first baseman Joe Mauer said. Its a lot of fun.Mauer had four of Minnesotas 15 hits, including a single, two doubles and a triple. Hes now 10 for 15 in the series and admitted that its taken some pain for him to start heating up at the plate.Ive been really staying on that back leg, driving the ball, Mauer said. Ive been a little more sore, but its been feeling good getting some results.Twins starter Tyler Duffey (6-8), who allowed five runs and eight hits over six innings, was happy to be in the dugout with Mauer, as opposed to facing the veteran.Hes on a tear right now, Duffey said. I wouldnt want to throw to him.Adding to Mauers big night, Brian Dozier finished 2 for 5 including a three-run homer in the ninth, while Max Kepler finished the game with two singles and two RBI.Kepler is now 7 for 12 in the series with four homers, 10 RBI and six walks.The rookies two-RBI single in the third was a bit controversial, as the blooper to right looked to be caught on a dive by Lonnie Chisenhall. Indians manager Terry Francona immediately challenged the play, but the call on the field stood.Francona and pitching coach Mickey Callaway were ejected for arguing by plate umpire Manny Gonzalez after the review.It was close and its one of those things were theyre not going to turn it over unless theyre 100 percent sure, Molitor said. You can understand the reaction because thats a big play in the game.Scoring five runs in the third after taking a 3-0 lead in the second, the Twins bounced Trevor Bauer (7-5) out of the game after just 2 2/3 innings.INJURY UPDATETwins third baseman Trevor Plouffe (broken left rib) began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Rochester, but theres no timetable for his return. Plouffe, who hasnt played since July 1, is batting .252 with seven homers and 27 RBI in 58 games. .TRAINERS ROOMTwins: OF Byron Buxton (right knee) wasnt in the lineup for the third straight game, but manager Paul Molior said hes ready to playIndians: OF Michael Brantley (sore right shoulder) hit in the batting cage Wednesday. Hes played in only 11 games this season after surgery in November.UP NEXTTwins: LHP Hector Santiago, acquired from the Angels before the trade deadline, makes his debut with Minnesota in the series finale. He won his last six starts with Los Angeles.Indians: RHP Mike Clevinger will be called up from Triple-A Columbus to start against the Twins. Wholesale Shoes Ireland Online . Badenhop was 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 63 relief appearances for Milwaukee this season. He is 18-20 in his career with three saves and a 3. Cheap Shoes Ireland From China . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. http://www.eccooutletireland.com/ .Y. - Nelson Mandela will be honoured by the New York Yankees with a plaque in Monument Park. Supply Ecco Shoes Ireland . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. Ecco Shoes Ireland Online . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. A few years ago, the Big Ten asked its football coaches to vote on whether theyd favor moving to a nine-game conference schedule.Their answer was unanimous: No.We wanted to stay at eight [league games], Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said. We liked that. We knew it. We understood it.Like it or not, ready or not, the league is embarking on a (sort of) new path this fall. The Big Ten will initiate its nine-game conference schedule in 2016, joining the Pac-12 and Big 12 among Power 5 leagues to do so. The SEC and ACC will continue to play eight-game conference schedules.The change is part of the Big Tens new scheduling mandate, which directs member schools to play at least one Power 5 nonconference opponent and no FCS teams in addition to those nine conference contests. The rationale for this model: improving strength-of-schedule ratings to impress the College Football Playoff selection committee and boosting attendance and interest.It is, I think, a sign of the times, Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said. Were looking to try and move forward and play more Power 5 conferences and within the Power 5 conferences.The increased number of high-stakes regular-season games does pose some risks when it comes to the Big Tens postseason chances, however.The additional losses that might come with more competitive schedules could dent a playoff contenders résumé. Perhaps its no coincidence that the Big 12 (in 2014) and the Pac-12 (in 2015) are the only two Power 5 leagues who have missed out on a playoff spot in the events first two seasons. Stanford coach David Shaw has been vocal about the inequality of some leagues going through a nine-game conference grind while others have stayed at eight.So the big question is, do committee members give extra weight to teams that play nine league games instead of eight?It depends on whom they schedule in nonconference games, said Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, who has served on the playoff selection committee since its inception. One of the criteria were mandated with is strength of schedule. Thats important, and a conference championship game is important.So we have criteria that we look at it, but thats up to each individual conference. Thats not our job.Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany has acknowledged the possibility that a league playoff contender could get knocked out by the tougher schedules. But the league is willing to gamble that the strength-of-schedule component will be worth it.I would say the champion of our league probably will get in the playoff because of it, provided they can get through with only one loss, said Dantonio, whose Spartans made the playoff last year despite a conference loss. I think its going to give us more credible conference scheduling.The playoff isnt the only place where the nine-game schedule could impact the postseason. An extra week of conference action means a Saturday in which seven league teams are guaranteed to lose. In the past, Big Ten teams struggling to make a bowl could get to 6-6 by playing four soft nonconference games and finding two league victories. Thats what Indiana did last season in qualifying for its first bowl game since 2007.Now teams would need to beat at least three Big Ten opponents to claw their way into the postseason. And, as Fitzgerald points ouut, those extra losses and potential missed bowl games could lead to more coaches being fired.ddddddddddddI dont know why we want to beat ourselves up one more time, Hoosiers coach Kevin Wilson said. Its not going to be easy, but we embrace the challenge.The nine-game league schedule presents other wrinkles. The uneven number means that half the league will play five conference home games in a season, while the other seven teams get only four. The Big Ten will rotate that by division, with the East getting the five league home games in 2016. In some years, that could affect the balance of power.Some teams will have an inherent advantage with five home games, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. In the years that you have that extra away game, you just have to accept it as a little bit of an extra challenge.Every team aims to have seven total home games per season for budgetary reasons. That creates some tricky logistics in years when a team has only four conference home games and also still has the Power 5 opponent requirement. Several Big Ten athletic directors and coaches would actually prefer to play 10 conference games per year so the schedule would have more balance. The league investigated that idea but decided going to 10 games is a little too radical right now.Coaches and administrators may sweat some of the details, but as Alvarez said, the nine-game schedule will be great for our fans. It means fewer cupcake games and more recognizable conference opponents. After expanding to 14 teams, the Big Tens eight-game schedule created some gaping on-field absences between programs; for example, Wisconsin and Michigan will meet this year for the first time since 2010.Adding those kinds of matchups is important. As Delany has often said, Big Ten teams want to play against each other more, not less. (And TV executives apparently agree, as the conference just signed a record media rights deal.)I committed to play in the Big Ten because I know its quality football, Badgers linebacker Vince Biegel said. I wanted to go play in the Big House and those kinds of venues.I love playing against other Big Ten teams, Minnesota senior linebacker Jack Lynn said. Thats kind of our identity. Its more intense, and preparing for each team is a little more strenuous.The Big Ten has actually gone down this road once before, albeit briefly.The league moved to a nine-game conference schedule from 1981-84, though Ohio State and Iowa refused to play the extra conference game in 1981 and 1982. Illinois remains the only team to go 9-0 in regular-season league play, doing so during its 83 Rose Bowl season. After Ohio State won the Big Ten with a 7-2 conference record, the league ditched the nine-game plan.Athletic directors had some of the same issues then as they have today, especially with the five home games versus four, senior associate Big Ten commissioner Mark Rudner said.Of course, those were much different times, with no playoff, less intense media coverage, and little emphasis on any bowl postseason besides the Rose Bowl. How will the nine-game schedule work in this era?I look forward to seeing how it plays out, Fitzgerald said.So does everybody else. ' ' '