Indians 9, Twins 8 (12)
Michael Brantley drove in three runs, including a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the 12th inning, as visiting Cleveland outlasted Minnesota in the rubber match of a three-game set.
Nick Swisher and Jason Kipnis led off the 12th with back-to-back singles off Ryan Pressly (3-3), and Swisher moved to third on a flyout before coming home on Brantley’s fly to center. Jason Giambi hit a game-tying three-run homer in the eighth and Carlos Santana homered and scored three times for the Indians, who are three games behind Oakland in the American League wild card race.
Joe Mauer went 5-for-7 with four RBIs, including a tying solo home run in the 10th, but could not make it a six-hit day when he struck out to end the game. Chris Perez (5-2) gave up Mauer’s tying shot in the 10th but earned the win while Joe Smith worked the 12th for his second save.
After Santana had put the Indians ahead 8-7 with a solo home run in the 10th, Perez gave the lead right back in the bottom of the frame when Mauer came up with one out and sent a 2-0 fastball over the wall in left to knot it again.
Minnesota took a 4-0 lead at the end of the second inning and led 7-3 after Chris Colabello’s RBI single in the seventh only to squander the lead in the next half-inning. Brantley’s RBI single started the rally and Giambi followed by lining a first-pitch slider from Casey Fien into the flower boxes above the wall in right for a three-run homer and a 7-7 game.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Indians signed Cuban RHP Leandro Linares to a minor-league contract worth a reported $925,000. … Twins 1B Justin Morneau has reportedly cleared waivers and could be traded to any team before the Aug. 31 waiver deadline and be eligible for the playoffs. Morneau is a free agent after this season, the last of a six-year, $80 million contract. … Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco was knocked around for four runs on 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings while Minnesota starter Kyle Gibson allowed three runs on six hits in 5 1/3 frames.