Hocking's hit in 10th beats Indians Saturday

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Minnesota's Denny Hocking, struggling all season to hit the curveball, was looking for a fastball. Cleveland's Steve Karsay, searching for his fastball all night, threw a curve.

And Hocking lined it for a two-run single in the 10th inning Saturday night as the Twins rallied for a 4-3 victory.

''You can count the number of curves I've hit this season on one hand,'' Hocking said. ''He threw me a lot of curves, but I was still thinking fastball because you don't want to take one down the middle with the game on the line.''

Minnesota scored the tying run in the ninth on Cristian Guzman's two-out single off Karsay, who blew a save for the fifth time in 21 chances.

Twins starter Brad Radke gave up seven hits and struck out seven in eight innings to send the Indians to their fourth straight loss.

Radke, eligible for free agency after the season and the subject of trade rumors, and the Twins are close to a four-year contract extension worth $36 million.

''If it works out, it will take a lot of pressure off my back,'' Radke said. ''I like the way this team is playing. These wins against Cleveland and the way we played the White Sox, we have stepped it up a notch.''

Cleveland continued to struggle, however. The Indians fell 10 1/2 games behind first-place Chicago in the AL Central by losing for the 15th time in 21 games.

Karsay walked Midre Cummings to open the Twins' 10th and Matt Lawton followed with an infield single. After Ron Coomer grounded into a double play, Corey Koskie was intentionally walked.

Hocking foiled the strategy with a line single to right.

''I couldn't locate my fastball,'' Karsay (1-5) said. ''That wasn't the typical me, walking guys. My fastball was getting too much of the plate, so I tried a 3-2 breaking ball.''

Eddie Guardado (4-2) gave up a solo homer to Ricky Ledee with one out in the 10th. Ledee hit his first home run since being traded from the New York Yankees for David Justice on Thursday.

Bob Wells got the last out for his sixth save.

Minnesota trailed 2-1 in the ninth when Jacque Jones lined a one-out triple off the wall in left-center. Jones held at third as pinch-hitter David Ortiz grounded out, but then scored when Guzman singled off Karsay.

''I felt good when we got Ortiz,'' Indians manager Charlie Manuel said. ''Then the next guy faked a bunt and ended up tying the game with a line drive.''

Minnesota stranded runners at third three times off Indians starter Dave Burba, who, along with outfielder Kenny Lofton, turned boos to cheers in helping Cleveland to a 2-1 lead.

Lofton, dropped from the leadoff spot for the first time in eight years, went 2-for-4, scored one run and drove in another batting eighth.

The six-time All-Star outfielder had been booed Friday in a 7-2 loss to the Twins when he struck out three times.