Twins fall in the tenth

Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 26, 2005

CLEVELAND (AP) &045; Even in celebration, there was concern for the up-one-day, down-the-next Cleveland Indians.

Travis Hafner’s bloop single scored pinch-runner Ronnie Belliard from second with two outs in the 10th inning to give the Indians a 3-2 comeback victory over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.

Hafner, who was batting just .167 against left-handers, hit a flare off lefty J.C. Romero that just cleared leaping shortstop Juan Castro’s glove. Belliard was waved around by third-base coach Joel Skinner and scored when left fielder Lew Ford’s throw was off the mark.

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But while Hafner was being mobbed in the infield by his teammates, Cleveland starter Kevin Millwood stayed back in the trainer’s room having his injured right groin examined by team doctors.

Millwood removed himself in the fifth inning after injuring his groin on what turned out to be his third-to-last pitch.

&uot;I felt it tug and bite a little bit,&uot; Millwood said. &uot;It didn’t pop, so that’s good. The doctor doesn’t think it’s real bad.&uot;

Millwood tried to remain in the game, but gave up when he couldn’t push off the rubber without pain.

&uot;Hopefully, it’s not too bad,&uot; he said. &uot;I’m really not as concerned as I am frustrated. It’s been a frustrating year so far.&uot;

Millwood will have an MRI on Thursday. Manager Eric Wedge deemed Millwood’s injury as &uot;considerable&uot; and said there’s a possibility the right-hander may go on the 15-day disabled list.

Bob Howry (3-1), one of four relievers the Indians brought in after Millwood got hurt, won the fifth one-run game between the AL Central rivals this season.

Torii Hunter hit his sixth homer for Minnesota.

Trailing 2-1 in the ninth, the Indians, who managed just six hits in eight innings off starter Carlos Silva, tied it on Ben Broussard’s leadoff homer against Joe Nathan. It was the first homer allowed by Minnesota’s closer since Aug. 19 &045; a span of 40 games.

&uot;How many?&uot; said a surprised Broussard. &uot;He’s tough, man. You don’t see him give up homers, runs, anything.&uot;

In the 10th, slumping catcher Victor Martinez, who didn’t start, walked on four pitches from Juan Rincon (2-2) and was replaced by Belliard. Grady Sizemore dropped a hard bunt that was quickly fielded by Rincon, who appeared to have time to get the lead runner at second but threw to first for the sure out.