MINNEAPOLIS – Jim Thome spent less than two seasons in Minnesota, hitting 37 home runs, including historic No. 600.
He returned to Target Field as a visitor for the first time Friday night, and Twins’ fans had a chance to show how much they appreciated his short tenure in a Minnesota uniform.
Thome was given a standing ovation prior to his first at-bat, and was applauded again even after hitting home run No. 603. The drive helped the Cleveland Indians beat the Twins 7-6 to keep the Detroit Tigers, at least for a few hours, from clinching the AL Central title.
Unfortunately for the Indians, the Tigers ended up beating the A’s 3-1 to win the Central and make the postseason for the first time since 2006, when they earned a wild-card spot. It’s the Tigers’ first division title since they won the AL East in 1987.
“Getting a chance to come here and play here for the two years I did was very special,” Thome said. “The crowd has always been great here. They really have. It’s been a joy. A little different competing against them, but that’s part of the game too.”
Thome homered in the ninth inning against Joe Nathan for a 7-4 lead, just Thome’s second home run since Cleveland reacquired him on Aug. 25. The 41-year-old spent his first 12 seasons with the Indians.
“That would only happen to a guy like him,” Indians manager Manny Acta said of the cheers. “To be doing what they were doing today, even in the first at-bat it seemed like they were pulling for him to hit a ball out when he first hit that fly ball to left field. He gets what he deserves. He’s such a great guy, and the fans here appreciate his time here.”
Thome’s 22 home runs are the most at Target Field, now in its second season, and he has six of the eight longest homers in the ballpark’s history.
The Twins showed a video tribute of Thome before his first at-bat, and he was greeted with a standing ovation before flying out to the left-field warning track. Thome went 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs.
Minnesota, which has dropped into last place, has lost six straight and 11 of 12. The Twins have scored just 21 runs in their last 11 games.
Backed by a 5-0 lead, Ubaldo Jimenez (4-2) allowed three runs – none earned – and five hits in 61⁄3 innings. Obtained from Colorado at the trade deadline on July 31, he improved to 3-1 with a 2.78 ERA in his last five starts after going 1-1 with a 7.29 ERA in his first four outings for the Indians.
“It means a lot for me, especially the way I started the season,” Jimenez said. “The first two, three months of the season wasn’t easy for me. Being able to finish strong means a lot.”
Minnesota had runners reach in each of the first five innings but couldn’t score until center fielder Grady Sizemore allowed Rene Tosoni’s well-hit fly ball to glance off his glove for a two-run error in the fifth.
TODAY
• WHO: Cleveland at Minnesota
• TIME: 1:10 p.m.
• WHERE: Target Field, Minneapolis
• PITCHERS: Gomez (3-2, 3.95 ERA) vs. Swarzak (3-6, 3.89)
• TV/RADIO: SportsTime Ohio; WEOL 930-AM, WTAM 1100-AM
