Valencia pushes Twins past Indians again

Nick Blackburn, Carlos Santana
Minnesota Twins' Alexi Casilla, left, scores on Joe Mauer's RBI single against Cleveland Indians catcher Carlos Santana, right, in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 20, 2011, in Minneapolis, Minn.
AP Photo/Genevieve Ross

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.

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, which just eluded second baseman Orlando Cabrera and scored Alexi Casilla to make it 5-4. Tsuyoshi Nishioka added a two-run single.

Tony Sipp (4-2) allowed three runs in relief.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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