Matt LaPorta homered to help the Indians lead the Twins, 2-0, through six innings.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This is a daily briefing of the Indians' 2010 regular season. The Tribe plays host to the Twins tonight in the first of a three-game series at Progressive Field.
Pitching matchups: RHP Fausto Carmona (11-14, 4.05) vs. RHP Carl Pavano (16-10, 3.52).
In-game updates: The Indians led the Twins, 2-0, through six innings.
Matt LaPorta hit a two-out homer in the second for a 1-0 lead. He hit a hanging changeup for his 10th long ball.
Carmona escaped trouble in the third.
J.J. Hardy led off with a single. Drew Butera chopped to the mound, where Carmona triggered a double play. After Denard Span tripled to right, Orlando Hudson lined to third.
In the Tribe half of the third, Michael Brantley tripled to right with one out. The throw from relay man Hudson was in time but third baseman Danny Valencia failed to secure it. Asdrubal Cabrera grounded to first, where Michael Cuddyer made a dive toward the line, snagged the ball and held Brantley. Shin-Soo Choo walked and Travis Hafner whiffed.
The Indians made it 2-0 in the fifth. Jason Donald singled and moved to third on Lou Marson's double. After Michael Brantley lined out to second, Asdrubal Cabrera hit a sacrifice fly to left. Delmon Young caught the ball in foul territory near the railing and had no shot at Donald.
Carmona gave up three hits and walked one. He retired the side in order in a stress-free sixth.
Pregame notes: Twins designated hitter Jim Thome's pursuit of eighth place alone on the all-time homers list will be put on hold for at least another day.
Thome is not in the lineup for a second consecutive game because of a mild abdominal strain. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said this afternoon that he hopes Thome will be able to play Saturday night.
Gardenhire ruled out Thome for pinch-hitting tonight.
Thome is tied with Frank Robinson for eighth in Major League Baseball history with 586 homers. He has a three-game homer streak, having gone deep twice Saturday and once Monday and Tuesday. He had a scheduled day off Sunday and was a late scratch Wednesday because of the abdomen.
Thome has reached base in 11 of his last 12 plate appearances. He leads the Twins with 22 homers.
Here are some other nuggets concerning Thome, a 13th-round pick by Cleveland in 1989:
*Six seasons of 40-plus homers.
*Career .294 hitter with 477 homers, .430 OBP and .617 SLG against right-handed pitchers.
*Career .330 hitter with 30 homers, .809 OBP and .798 SLG after 3-0 count.
*Indians franchise leader with 334 homers.
*Career .254 hitter with 18 homers and 51 RBI in 70 games against Indians.
*Career .307 hitter with 185 homers in 662 games at Jacobs/Progressive Field.
*Amassed 190 homers over four-year span, 2001-2004.
*Hit 511-foot homer off Kansas City's Don Wengert on July 3, 1999, at Jacobs Field -- longest HR by an Indian in a Cleveland ballpark. Hit 480-footer off Kansas City's Sean O'Sullivan on Sept. 6, 2010, at Target Field -- longest HR at Target Field, which opened this season.
*Home run No. 500 was a walkoff (White Sox beat Angels, Sept. 16, 2007).
*Has hit 17 homers in 64 postseason games.
*2002 Roberto Clemente Award.
*2006 American League Comeback Player of the Year.
Keep working: The Indians will send 50 players, including their top pick from each of the last two drafts, to the Arizona Instructional League on Wednesday. They will play a 14-game schedule, Sept. 22 through Oct. 14.
Left-hander Drew Pomeranz and right-hander Alex White will be among the players attending. Pomeranz was the Indians No.1 pick this year, while White was their No.1 pick last year.
New gig: Cord Phelps, Columbus' second baseman, has been picked for Team USA's Pan-Am roster. They begin play in Puerto Rico on Oct. 1.
O-Dog rules: Twins second baseman Orlando Hudson has reached safely via hit or walk in 15 straight games.
Car parts: Carmona has lost six straight starts.
Lineups:
Twins (83-57) -- 1. Denard Span cf; 2. Orlando Hudson 2b; 3. Joe Mauer dh; 4. Jason Kubel rf; 5. Michael Cuddyer 1b; 6. Delmon Young lf; 7. Danny Valencia 3b; 8. J.J. Hardy ss; 9. Drew Butera c; and Pavano.
Indians (57-83) -- 1. Michael Brantley cf; 2. Asdrubal Cabrera ss; 3. Shin-Soo Choo rf; 4. Travis Hafner dh; 5. Jayson Nix 3b; 6. Matt LaPorta 1b; 7. Trevor Crowe lf; 8. Jason Donald 2b; 9. Lou Marson c; and Carmona.
Umpires: P -- Paul Nauert; 1b -- Angel Campos; 2b -- Brian Gorman; 3b -- Tony Randazzo.