CLEVELAND, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- Cristian Guzman singled in a pair of runs in the seventh inning Saturday night as the Minnesota Twins avoided a third straight loss to the Cleveland Indians by rallying for a 3-2 victory.
The Twins reduced their major number for clinching the AL Central title to two.
Minnesota entered this four-game series with Cleveland intent on clinching the division against the Indians, who clinched the title a year ago with a victory over the Twins. But Cleveland won the first two games of this series and the second-place Chicago White Sox won three straight.
On Saturday, Jason Davis made his first major league start for Cleveland and handcuffed the Twins, limiting them to one run and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.
The Indians took a 2-1 lead into the seventh inning but Luis Rivas led off with a walk against Cleveland reliever Carl Sadler (1-2) and Jacque Jones doubled. Minnesota had been just one for 10 with runners in scoring position but Guzman came through with a bloop single down the right field line to give Minnesota its first lead.
Minnesota starter Rick Reed (15-7) allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings. He improved to 6-1 with a 1.57 ERA in his last seven starts.
LaTroy Hawkins and J.C. Romero combined to pitch the eighth and closer Eddie Guardado worked a perfect ninth for his 41st save.
