Baseball REPORTER 

--RF Michael Cuddyer went 0-for-3 on Sunday. 

Twins first baseman Justin Morneau entered Saturday's game hitless in his last 16 at-bats and in his previous four games. 

--RHP Nick Blackburn gave up three runs in 6 2/3 innings of work Sunday, good for his second straight promising start, but even those results weren't enough -- Blackburn ended up with his 10th loss of the season. 

EX- Nationals PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jon Rauch 

CLEVELAND -- In July of last season, Justin Morneau batted . 

CLEVELAND -- Nick Blackburn gave up three runs in 6 2/3 innings Sunday, and Minnesota's bullpen shut Cleveland down from there in a 3-1 loss at Progressive Field. 

If the Minnesota Twins were going to miss the playoffs, they probably didn't figure they'd fall from contention in part due to the struggles of Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau in the middle of their lineup. 

Michael Brantley and David Huff gave the Cleveland Indians hope for the future by damaging the Minnesota Twins' present plans.