MINNEAPOLIS — Danny Valencia thinks of himself as one of the big hitters in the Minnesota Twins lineup.

If he keeps coming up with clutch hits like he did against the Cleveland Indians, there will be no doubting his importance.

Valencia singled home the go-ahead run for the second straight day, this time in the eighth inning, and Minnesota beat Cleveland 7-5 in a sloppy game played on another sweltering day at Target Field.

“You know, hitting behind Jim Thome, obviously you know they are going to pitch around him to get to me,” Valencia said. “To be able to come into those situations and capitalize, and for our team to win is all I care about.”