MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Danny Valencia singled home the go-ahead run for the second straight day, this time in the eighth inning, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Cleveland Indians 7-5 in a sloppy game played on another sweltering day at Target Field.
Minnesota salvaged a split in the four-game series with the AL Central-leading Indians that was played in extreme heat and humidity. Temperatures were in the mid- to high-90s for each game.
Matt Capps (3-5) earned the win in relief of Nick Blackburn, who gave up four runs — one earned — in six innings. Joe Nathan gave up a solo homer to Lonnie Chisenhall, but earned his sixth save.
Valencia, who won Tuesday night's game with an RBI single in the ninth, lined a ball to right field, which just eluded the glove of second baseman Orlando Cabrera, to score Alexi Casilla, who had three hits, two runs and an RBI. Tsuyoshi Nishioka added a two-run single to cap the Twins' rally.
Casilla had reached off Cleveland reliever Tony Sipp (4-2) after his long fly ball to the warning track fell between left fielder Luis Valbuena and center fielder Ezequiel Carrera. The ball bounced off the warning track and into the bullpen for a ground-rule double.
Sipp allowed three runs on two hits and a walk in just a third of an inning. Indians starter Josh Tomlin pitched six innings, giving up four runs on eight hits.
The Indians also benefited from an outfield miscue.
With the bases loaded in the fourth, Cleveland's Matt LaPorta sent a high sacrifice fly to center field, but the ball glanced off of Minnesota center fielder Ben Revere's glove allowing two runs to score.
Revere took one away from LaPorta later, going back to the wall in the eighth with a runner at third and two outs to make a leaping, two-handed grab and keep the score tied.
A misplay by the Indians in center field allowed the Twins to answer in the bottom of the fourth.
Michael Cuddyer started the inning with a single and Jim Thome followed with a liner to center. Carrera charged and dove for the ball, which glanced off his glove and went into deep left field, allowing Cuddyer to score.
Carrera and Valbuena were part of a depleted outfield for the Indians, who were missing center fielder Michael Brantley and Travis Buck.
Cleveland manager Manny Acta said Brantley — the team's leadoff hitter — was diagnosed with heat exhaustion after playing in both games of Monday's doubleheader and was still having stomach issues on Wednesday.
With the Twins leading 4-3 in the sixth, the Indians tied it on a passed ball by Twins catcher Drew Butera that allowed Travis Hafner to score from third.
Butera was catching with Joe Mauer playing first base for the second straight game. Mauer was given the choice of where to play by Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire.
Mauer had two hits and is now hitting .642 as a first baseman.
TWIN TIPS: Twins RHP Scott Baker (right flexor strain) threw a bullpen session before the game. If Baker feels good after throwing, he will likely start Saturday's game against Detroit. ... Buck was still experiencing headaches before the game and was unavailable. Buck was hit in the head by a pitch from Francisco Liriano on Tuesday, but hasn't shown signs of a concussion. Acta said Buck is not subject to the MLB concussion testing. ... Tomlin has gone at least five innings in each of his 32 career starts, the first time since 1919 the feat has been accomplished.
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