MINNEAPOLIS -- The Indians' bullpen has let down the club time and time again this season. On Saturday, it spoiled a milestone of the team's star center fielder.

Grady Sizemore's 100th career home run, a three-run shot in the second inning off Twins starter Kevin Slowey, was for naught in Saturday's 9-6 Cleveland loss against Minnesota due to the Tribe's most recent bullpen letdown.

"It's tough," Sizemore said. "Obviously we aren't playing our best. Guys are playing hard; we just aren't finding ways to win."

The Twins jumped to an early lead by taking advantage of wildness by Indians starter Aaron Laffey. After securing the first two outs in the first inning, Laffey walked Joe Mauer and then hit Justin Morneau with a pitch. Craig Monroe made him pay by drilling a two-run double off the right-field baggie.

The Tribe bounced back in the second by also taking advantage of control issues. Slowey, who had allowed only nine walks in 72 2/3 innings entering the day, issued two free passes in the frame. Shin-Soo Choo led off with a walk and was doubled home two batters later by David Dellucci. Slowey then walked Kelly Shoppach before allowing an RBI single to Andy Marte. With Marte and Shoppach on, Sizemore drove a 2-2 fastball 389 feet over the right-center-field wall, giving Cleveland a 5-2 lead.

But with the way the Indians' bullpen has been pitching, no lead can be considered safe. Cleveland entered the game with the worst bullpen ERA (5.03) in the Majors. By contrast, the Tribe's starters entered the day seventh in the big leagues with a 3.91 ERA despite injuries to Fausto Carmona and Jake Westbrook.

And sure enough, the lead wouldn't hold. The Twins chipped away at the deficit against Laffey with a run in each the fourth and fifth innings, but Minnesota seized control of the game in the sixth. Tom Mastny came on in relief of Laffey to start the inning and began by inducing a Nick Punto groundout.

But it was downhill for Cleveland from there. Mastny walked the speedy No. 9 hitter, Denard Span, and surrendered a bunt hit to Carlos Gomez on a close play at first. Alexi Casilla followed with a two-run double to right field. Mastny intentionally walked Mauer before exiting for Rafael Perez. The lefty labored before escaping the inning, walking two and giving up a bases-loaded, two-run single to Brendan Harris. The five-run frame gave the Twins a 9-5 lead.

Mastny was charged with four earned runs while only securing one out. He appeared frustrated after the Gomez bunt.

"It was a big play," Mastny said. "I don't know if he was safe or out, I thought he was out. ... Two outs right there, it changes the momentum of the inning. I really think that was the play, not the walk, that led to the big inning."

"It's tough. Obviously we aren't playing our best. Guys are playing hard; we just aren't finding ways to win."
-- Grady Sizemore

Indians manager Eric Wedge disagreed: "The walks are more what is killing us right now. [Mastny] gets the first out, then walks the nine-hole [guy] to get to the leadoff [spot]. In that type of ballgame, that's just not something that can happen."

Laffey got a no-decision after allowing four earned runs in five innings on five hits and four walks. He left with a 5-4 lead but was not frustrated with the bullpen's continued struggles.

"Not at all," Laffey said. "I didn't pitch well enough to win that game. I feel like, 'No hard feelings.' They are out there trying just as hard as I was."

The Tribe had hoped to rectify its bullpen problems on Friday when designating struggling closer Joe Borowski for assignment, along with seldom-used reliever Rick Bauer, and calling up a pair of Minor Leaguers. But the bullpen gave up six earned runs on Friday against the Twins in 2 2/3 innings and allowed five earned runs in three innings on Saturday. Mastny's loss on Saturday drops the Tribe bullpen's season record to 8-17.

The Indians walked eight batters in Saturday's loss, including two intentionally. The Twins, who do not possess a patient offense, entered the game 26th in the Majors in walks. The free passes were particularly disconcerting for Laffey.

"My last two times out, my command's been terrible. Walking four guys, hitting a batter, that's just not going to get it done," Laffey said.

Slowey recovered after Sizemore's home run. The right-hander retired 13 consecutive batters.

"He pitched well once he got out of the second inning and kind of slowed our offense down, and theirs' picked up as the game went on," Sizemore said. "They stole the momentum, especially in that sixth."

All of which meant that Sizemore's milestone was overshadowed by another loss. Cleveland has now dropped seven in a row and 13 of its last 17 games.

Said Wedge: "As a leader on this ballclub, I know he's not thinking about [the home run] right now. He's thinking about where this ballclub's at and what we can do to get things turned around."

Wedge was right, but maybe not in the way he had thought. A reporter was met with a quizzical look after the game when informing Sizemore of his 100th home run. The center fielder had no idea he had accomplished the feat.

"I approach every day trying to see what I can do to help my team get a win," Sizemore said. "It's not about our personal stats out there, it's trying to help our team win in anyway you can. I come here every day with that mentality and I go from there."