If not for a quirky 7th inning, the Indians' bid to sweep the Twins at Target Field would have fallen short.
Fortunately, the Tribe plated 6 runs and emerged from a grueling, 11-day road trip with a 5-5 record.
Having committed 4 errors defensively, the Indians limped into that fateful 7th frame, trailing 3-0.
Facing Carl Pavano, Shelley Duncan launched a lead-off homer to left field, igniting the comeback.
Chris Parmelee booted Lonnie Chisenhall's routine grounder, enabling the Indians' 3rd baseman to reach 1st base safely.
Pavano, though, regained his composure and induced a fly out and a ground out to move to within 1 out of ending the sputtering rally.
Pavano would not record that last out.
Lou Marson singled and Kosuke Fukudome walked to load the bases, prompting Ron Gardenhire, the Minnesota skipper, to turn to his bullpen.
Jose Mijares was the 1st reliever summoned, and he walked Jason Kipnis, forcing home a run.
Alex Burnett then replaced Mijares, but Burnett walked Carlos Santana to tie the game.
Gardenhire finally found a pitcher who could throw strikes when he summoned Glen Perkins. Perkins' 1st delivery shattered Jim Thome's bat, but the baseball was hit so poorly that no Twins' infielder could retire the slow-footed Thome. The RBI infield single pushed the Indians into their 1st lead of the afternoon.
Duncan's 2-run double capped the uprising and silenced a crowd of 37,012.
Vinnie Pestano issued a pair of bases-loaded walks in the 8th before Trevor Plouffe popped out to preserve the Tribe's advantage.
Chris Perez breezed through the 9th, notching his 34th save.
Justin Masterson earned his 12th victory as the big right-hander allowed 3 runs, 1 earned, in 6 innings.
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| Thome broke his bat, but delivered the game-winning hit |
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