Jim Thome homered in his return to Target Field and Carlos Santana added a solo shot as the Cleveland Indians hung on to defeat the host Minnesota Twins 7-6 on Friday.

The Indians were eliminated from playoff contention later Friday when the Detroit Tigers clinched the American League Central with a 3-1 victory at Oakland.

Cleveland snapped a three-game losing streak while Minnesota has lost six in a row and 10 of 11.

Ubaldo Jimenez (10-11) allowed three runs (one earned) in 6 1/3 innings.

Thome, playing his first game in Minnesota since the Twins traded him to Cleveland on July 28, hit a solo homer - the 603rd of his career - in the ninth off Joe Nathan.

Santana's solo homer in the second gave Cleveland a 1-0 lead. Lou Marson and Lonnie Chisenhall had two RBIs apiece for the Indians.

Chris Perez allowed two runs in the ninth, but recorded his 33rd save and first since Sept. 4.

Kevin Slowey (0-6) gave up five runs in four innings. Joe Benson was 4-for-4 for the Twins, who nearly rallied from a 5-0 deficit.

The Twins, who have the worst record in the American League, learned before the game that Joe Mauer will likely miss the rest of the season with pneumonia.

Cleveland's Asdrubal Cabrera was hitless in four at-bats and is in an 0-for-20 slump.