Carlos Santana, coming off his first career All-Star appearance, hit a solo home run that broke a seventh-inning tie and the Indians avoided a sweep with a 4-3 win over the first-place Minnesota Twins on Sunday.
Santana lined an 0-2 pitch from Trevor May (3-2) into the right-field seats for his 21st homer of the season.
All-Star MVP Shane Bieber helped Cleveland salvage the finale and close within 6 ½ games of the Twins.
The Twins scored all three of their runs in the seventh inning.
Luis Arraez drew a leadoff walk and Mitch Garver was hit by a pitch, a call that was upheld after a Cleveland challenge. Marwin González’s single scored Arraez and Miguel Sanó’s single loaded the bases.
Bieber’s 0-2 pitch to Jake Cave was ruled a foul ball, but the Twins challenged the call. The replay showed the ball hit Cave on the hand, forcing in a run and cutting the lead to 3-2.
Bieber struck out Jonathan Schoop and was relieved by Oliver Pérez. Max Kepler’s bloop hit to center tied the game. Jorge Polanco struck out and Adam Cimber whiffed Nelson Cruz.
