Thome, Indians stymie Twins

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Jim Thome gave Cleveland fans one more memory, and so did Carlos Santana, whose pinch-hit homer leading off the bottom of the ninth gave the Indians a 6-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.

Thome went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, including a two-run homer, the 604th of his career, on a night he was honored in pregame ceremonies.

Santana, batting for Lou Marson, drove the first pitch from Matt Capps (4-7) over the wall in right center for his 26th homer.

Chris Perez (4-7) pitched one perfect inning as Cleveland pulled out a dramatic win for Thome, who has said he will wait until the offseason to announce whether or not he wants to return for a 22nd season in 2012.

Fans sat through a steady rain to salute Thome before the game, then gave the 41-year-old designated hitter a rousing ovation his first time up. The cheers increased when he lined a run-scoring double into the left-field corner, a two-out hit that got Cleveland within 2-1.

Matt LaPorta, who had three hits for Cleveland, tied it at 2 with an RBI double in the second.

Chris Parmelee's two-run single in the first off Indians starter Justin Masterson gave the Twins a 2-0 lead.

Valencia, Span out of lineup after fender bender

CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Minnesota Twins' injury-ravaged season took yet another bizarre twist when Danny Valencia and Denard Span were held out of the lineup Friday night after being involved in a minor traffic accident.

Both suffered general soreness and headaches in the accident.

The players were traveling in separate vehicles to the airport Thursday afternoon in Minneapolis following a victory over Seattle that broke an 11-game losing streak. Valencia's car, a Range Rover Sport being driven by his fiancee, stopped in rush hour traffic and was rear-ended by Span's car, also a Range Rover.