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Minnesota Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano delivers a pitch against the Cleveland Indians in the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 19, 2011, in Minneapolis, Minn. Genevieve Ross, Associated Press
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The Cleveland Indians' Travis Buck gets hit in the head by a pitch delivered by the Minnesota Twins pitcher,Francisco Liriano in the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 19, 2011, in Minneapolis, Minn. Genevieve Ross, Associated Press
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Cleveland Indians pitcher Justin Masterson delivers to the Minnesota Twins in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 19, 2011, in Minneapolis, Minn. Genevieve Ross, Associated Press
By Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — Danny Valencia hit a two-run single off closer Chris Perez in the ninth inning, sending the Minnesota Twins to a 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night.

Perez (2-5) is in the middle of a solid year but the Twins got to him for a big win. He walked Joe Mauer and gave up a double to Michael Cuddyer. Jim Thome was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Valencia followed with a bloop single.

Glen Perkins (2-1) picked up the win in relief of Francisco Liriano, who gave up one run and four hits in six innings.

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It was a huge lift for the Twins, who were swept in a day-night doubleheader on Monday to fall seven games behind the Indians in the AL Central.

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