Indians 7, Twins 2: Nick Swisher belted a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning and added an RBI double in the seventh as Cleveland pulled away from Minnesota to win its home opener.

Yan Gomes had a solo homer among his two hits and Nyjer Morgan recorded two singles and an RBI while Michael Brantley knocked in a pair of runs for the Indians. Cleveland starter Danny Salazar allowed two runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings and Josh Outman (1-0) retired two batters for his first Indians win.

Brian Dozier had three hits and scored a run while Chris Colabello homered for the Twins, who could not give manager Ron Gardenhire his 1,000th career win. Minnesota starter Mike Pelfrey (0-1) did not allow a baserunner through the first four frames, but gave up three runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings overall before leaving.

Dozier doubled to lead off the game and scored on Josh Willingham’s sacrifice fly before Colabello drove a 2-2 pitch out to right-center field later in the inning for a 2-0 lead. Brantley threw out Kurt Suzuki at the plate from left field in the second and Salazar escaped one-out, bases-load jam in the fifth.

Gomes belted his solo shot to center field to lead off the sixth and after a walk and a sacrifice, Swisher hammered a 0-1 pitch from Pelfrey into the right-field seats for a 3-2 lead. Morgan delivered an RBI single, Swisher followed with his double to right and Brantley capped the seventh with a two-out, two-run single up the middle.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Salazar is the youngest pitcher (24) to start a home opener for Cleveland since Dennis Eckersley (21) in 1976. … Cleveland announced the signing of 2B Jason Kipnis before the game to a six-year contract extension, reportedly worth $52.5 million, with a club option for a seventh season. … The contest was delayed for more than two hours by inclement weather.