Minnesota @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 11, 2010 ) Minnesota 1, Cleveland 0

Thanks to Jim Thome and a little history, the Minnesota Twins picked up a game in the American League Central standings Saturday night.

They hope pitcher Kevin Slowey can keep the momentum going as the Twins face the Cleveland Indians in the series finale Sunday at Progressive Field.

Thome hit his 587th career home run Saturday to give the Twins a 1-0 win over Cleveland. The blast, which landed in the Indians' bullpen in dead center field, was big on a couple of fronts.

The homer moved Thome past Frank Robinson and into sole possession of eighth place on the all-time home run list. It also gave the Twins, who have won seven of eight, an important victory as they move in on their second straight division title. Minnesota leads Chicago, which lost to Kansas City, by six games in the Central.

The homer was the Twins' first run of the series, covering 20 innings. Minnesota was blanked by Fausto Carmona on Friday night before being shut down by four pitchers – Carlos Carrasco, Rafael Perez, Chris Perez and Tony Sipp – until Thome homered off Justin Germano.

Slowey makes his second start since coming off the disabled list with strained triceps. The right-hander was on a pitch count and was removed after throwing 77 pitches against Kansas City. He pitched four innings, allowing two runs and seven hits.

Slowey isn't overpowering so the key to his success in his control. He's walked 28 batters in 141 1/3 innings, which helps neutralize the fact he has given up 154 hits and opponents are batting .278 against him.

Slowey has faced the Indians three times this season, going 2-0. He pitched eight dominant innings on April 20, holding Cleveland to one run and five hits with no walks and nine strikeouts in eight innings. Slowey's only mistake came on Travis Hafner's solo homer.

He beat the Indians again on April 30, giving up three runs in five innings. Slowey got a no-decision on July 20, allowing three runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Slowey has pitched 18 2/3 innings against Cleveland without walking a batter.

Mitch Talbot, who broke a nine-start winless streak in his last outing, goes for the Indians. Talbot allowed one unearned run in 6 2/3 innings against Seattle. He struck out six and walked one. The right-hander was 0-5 since June 27 going into the game.

The Twins are off Monday and a open three-game series Tuesday in Chicago, the last meeting between the teams this season.