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Cabrera's single in 11th lifts Indians over Twins

May 2, 2010 - 4:14 AM CLEVELAND(AP) -- Asdrubal Cabrera wasn't trying to do anything special when he came to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded in the 11th inning Saturday night.

Fortunately for the Indians, he did.

Cabrera's line-drive single off Jesse Crain gave Cleveland a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

"I feel comfortable in that spot," Cabrera said. "I wanted to put the ball in play and hit it hard. I felt normal. I didn't feel any pressure."

Travis Hafner drew a leadoff walk from Alex Burnett (0-1) and was pulled for pinch-runner Luis Valbuena, who moved to third when Jhonny Peralta doubled. Russell Branyan was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Crain retired Mark Grudzielanek on a fly to shallow left and Lou Marson struck out. Just when it looked as though the Indians were going to let the opportunity slip away, Cabrera pulled a 1-1 pitch to right field, handing Minnesota its third loss in four games.

"I'd rather do it with one out instead of waiting for two outs," Indians manager Manny Acta joked.

The Twins loaded the bases with one out in the 11th, but Jamey Wright (1-1) got Drew Butera to hit into a double play.

Minnesota played without star catcher and AL MVP Joe Mauer, who bruised his left heel running the bases Friday.

Jim Thome drove in two runs for the Twins against his former team with a bases-loaded single in the first. Denard Span's solo homer gave Minnesota a 3-0 lead in the third.

Peralta's solo home run in the second and Cabrera's run-scoring double-play grounder in the third cut the lead to 3-2.

Justin Morneau's solo homer in the eighth gave the Twins a 4-2 lead before the Indians tied it against Matt Guerrier, who retired the first two batters of the inning. But Cabrera singled and scored on Grady Sizemore's double to left-center. Shin-Soo Choo then singled to center, scoring Sizemore.

Jeff Manship, promoted from Triple-A Rochester to start for Minnesota, allowed two runs and six hits in six innings while striking out a career-high six.

Manship started because the Twins had to move Kevin Slowey to Friday night to replace Nick Blackburn, who was placed on the family medical emergency list. If it was only a one-start stay for Manship, he made a good impression. The right-hander struck out the side in the first, walked one and left the game with the lead.

"I'm feeling pretty good," Manship said. "It's nice to go out and give us six innings. I was able to get ahead of the hitters and make some pitches when I needed them."

Justin Masterson gave up three runs in the first two innings, but held the Twins scoreless until Morneau's two-out homer in the eighth. Masterson allowed four runs and 10 hits while striking out seven in 7 2-3 innings.

The Twins are expected to add catcher Wilson Ramos, who has been playing at Rochester, before Sunday's game. Butera caught all 11 innings Saturday night. Mauer is day to day, but because it's unclear how long he'll be out the Twins are reluctant to have only one healthy catcher on the roster.

Minnesota will have to make a roster move before adding Ramos.

NOTES: Twins 3B Nick Punto was activated from the disabled list before the game and INF Luke Hughes was optioned to Rochester. ... LHP Francisco Liriano, who has pitched 23 consecutive scoreless innings, will start Sunday for the Twins. ... Blackburn might start Tuesday against Detroit. ... Cleveland reliever Kerry Wood (sore upper back) is scheduled to go on a minor league rehabilitation assignment next week. ... The Indians traded minor league INF Niuman Romero to Boston for cash.