MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins took two of three at Progressive Field to open the second half and departed Cleveland with what they hoped would be a statement series win over their red-hot challengers for the division crown.

Instead, Cleveland surged to a 17-6 record following that series and carried that renewed momentum into Target Field on Thursday.

That makes it all the more difficult that Minnesota’s starting rotation appears to be mired in one of its rougher patches of the season, while designated hitter Nelson Cruz is again dealing with a left wrist strain. But as three late runs against one of the league’s top bullpens, and a bases-loaded rally in the ninth inning of Thursday night’s 7-5 loss to the Indians showed, the bats can still give the club a chance to overcome those early deficits, even against the most elite competition.

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“Thank goodness there wasn’t more innings, just because they keep coming at you, and we knew that,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. “That was two teams that wanted to win really bad.”

The defeat again trimmed the Twins’ lead over the Indians in the American League Central to only one game for the first time since July 27. The Twins have not shared the division lead since April 26.

Cleveland’s bullpen owned a Major League-leading 3.22 ERA and had allowed only one run in its previous 16 2/3 innings entering Thursday’s game. Indians starter Mike Clevinger had also retired the final 10 hitters he faced through seven effective innings.

But even faced with a 6-2 deficit, the Twins’ offense pressed the issue until the bitter end with patient at-bats in the final two innings, clawing within one run at one point before they stranded the bases loaded in the ninth inning against Indians closer Brad Hand.

“Once we got into the bullpen a little bit, we got to work and had some good at-bats, hit balls well and had a chance to win the game,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “That's all you can ask for against a good team we are playing against. Just not enough tonight, but we will be back tomorrow.”

It started in the eighth, with Cleveland right-hander Adam Cimber on the mound to protect a 6-2 lead, when Ehire Adrianza beat out an infield single and Max Kepler walked to open the frame. The Twins took advantage with timely hits to pull within one run after RBI doubles by Jorge Polanco and Miguel Sanó, as well as a run-scoring fielder’s choice by Eddie Rosario.

And after they forced the Indians to turn to Hand in that eighth, they got to him in the ninth, loading the bases with a pair of singles from Adrianza and Kepler and an intentional walk to C.J. Cron, before Rosario hit a flare to left field to end the game.

After Jose Berrios and Martin Perez both turned in their worst outings of the season in the last two games, it was Kyle Gibson who struggled this time, issuing a career-high six walks and allowing six runs in 4 1/3 frames to force the Twins to dig themselves out of a hole against the opposing bullpen for the third straight contest.

"[The early holes] are probably just too deep to get out of,” Baldelli said. “I think we're in a little bit of a rut, just starting pitching wise. It's just a little run of pitching not going your way, and you're not throwing the ball the way you want to. That is going to happen. We are playing against some pretty good teams as well, and they make you pay when you are not on your game.”

The Twins’ pitchers have seen, time and time again, how their offense has the potential to bail them out on any given day. But while they certainly appreciate the help, they’re not taking any pressure off themselves -- especially in this difficult stretch.

“We know that our job, because of this offense, is a whole lot easier than it could be,” Gibson said. “We know that if we leave the game within one, two runs either way, we've done a pretty good job. When you're not able to do that it's pretty frustrating, especially knowing that seventh, eighth, ninth inning ... you never know what's going to happen with this team.”

Still, there’s been no “panic” button for the Twins over the last month, even as the Indians have clawed ever closer. With Shane Bieber looming on Friday, and the prospect of sharing the division lead for the first time in more than three months, that still hasn’t changed.

“Tomorrow is another game,” Rosario said. “A different day, another game.”