elevation of the Mile High City was getting to him. "Te

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians specialized in walk-off wins last season. It took 34 games, but they finally got their first walk-off this season on Wednesday night when Mike Aviles two-out single in the ninth inning lifted the Indians to a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Clevelands players mobbed Aviles after he crossed first base. "Its definitely fun, especially with a noon game (Wednesday)," Aviles said. "Its always good not to play extra innings and get that big win at the end." "That was nice," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "We needed that." The Indians had 11 walk-off victories last season as they won 92 games and made the playoffs as a wild-card team. "Were playing at home and when you hit last you always feel like you have a chance," Francona said. The short-handed Twins were playing their third straight game without first baseman Joe Mauer and had only 11 available position players. Eduardo Escobar, normally a shortstop, played the entire game in left field, which cost Minnesota in the ninth. Asdrubal Cabrera led off the inning with a double against Casey Fien (3-1). Escobar misjudged the ball and turned the wrong way as it landed on the warning track. "He just didnt get to it, Im sure he shied away from the wall," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Hes not been out there a lot and it was going toward the wall over his head and he got to the warning track and felt that he was a little too close probably." After Lonnie Chisenhalls sacrifice bunt, Yan Gomes grounded out. Aviles hit a hard ground ball on a 1-1 pitch into centre field. John Axford (1-3), who had allowed game-winning home runs in his previous two outings, survived a shaky ninth. He retired the first two hitters, but Danny Santana doubled down the right-field line. After Brian Dozier walked on a 3-2 pitch, third baseman Carlos Santana, who had to contend with a fan who wanted the ball, leaned into the stands to catch Sam Fulds foul popup. "I was yelling from the mound, but I dont think he heard me," Axford said of the fan. "I was yelling, dont touch it. " Axford had a bad week going into the game. Chicagos Dayan Viciedo hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning Sunday while Escobar hit a solo homer in the 10th inning Monday, giving Minnesota a 1-0 win. Axford was unavailable Tuesday after pitching the three previous games. "I felt good," he said. "Physically, I feel great. It worked out perfect. I got a day off and was able to rest up." Danny Salazar, who hit 100 mph on the Progressive Field radar gun several times, took a 3-1 lead into the seventh, but Minnesota tied the game on pinch-hitter Santanas RBI single and Doziers sacrifice fly. Salazar retired the first hitter, but Josmil Pinto singled and took third when Escobar doubled to left-centre. Bryan Shaw relieved to face Santana, who batted for Pedro Florimon. Shaw had to hit the deck to avoid Santanas liner up the middle that scored Pinto and put runners at first and third. Doziers fly ball scored Escobar. Salazar allowed three runs and struck out seven in 6 1-3 innings. Ricky Nolasco gave up three runs with nine strikeouts in six innings. Michael Brantley had a two-run double in the third and Gomes hit a leadoff homer in the fifth. Dozier had an RBI double in the third. Mauer, who has lower back spasms, played catch and took swings off a batting tee before the game. Gomes home run atoned for his ninth error of the season that helped Minnesota score in the third. Florimon drew a two-out walk, stole second and took third when Gomes throw skipped into centre field. Dozier followed with his double. NOTES: Indians OF Michael Bourn (tight left hamstring) missed his fourth straight game, but said he could return for the final game of the series Thursday. ... The Twins selected the contract of RHP Matt Guerrier from Triple-A Rochester and optioned LHP Logan Darnell to the same club. ... OF Aaron Hicks (concussion) is taking live batting practice in Minneapolis and could come off the 7-day disabled list this weekend. ... Twins RHP Kevin Correia (1-3) faces RHP Justin Masterson (1-1) on Thursday. Asics Running Shoes Clearance Sale . A player confirmed to TSN on the condition of anonymity that he received his ballot yesterday. Another confirms hes been told to expect his shortly. "The unions executive committee insists a strike vote does not mean were pushing away from the table," the player said. "But we want the league to know were serious about our position. Asics Running Shoes Sale Canada . It was considered unlikely that Rielly would be loaned to Canada for the tournament, which begins Dec. 26 in Malmo, Sweden, though a stretch of three straight games in the press box made it something of a debate. http://www.clearanceasicscanada.com/ . TSN Hockey Insiders Pierre LeBrun and Bob McKenzie both reported Thursday that there have been ongoing trade discussions between the Oilers and Los Angeles Kings over forward Sam Gagner. Asics Running Shoes Clearance Canada .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. Asics Outlet Store Canada . The league announced Thursday that Tom Higgins is leaving that post effective immediately.DENVER -- The kid wanted to keep playing even with the field a muddy mess and more rain on the horizon. Sorry, Nolan Arenado, maybe next time. The game between the Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants was suspended after the second rain delay Thursday, with the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning. A makeup date was still being determined. The Giants next visit Coors Field on Sept. 1-3. When the game resumes, though, the Rockies will be at the plate with two outs and Michael Cuddyer on first after his third single. Had it been left up to Arenado, they wouldve found a way to finish. But thats just him. "If it looked good, I wish we wouldve kept playing," Arenado said. Thats the thing -- the weather didnt look good. Although the skies looked less ominous, the field was saturated. The grounds crew dumped bags and bags of diamond dry on the infield just to try and make it playable. But after an 82-minute delay before the fourth and another stoppage two innings later for 84 minutes, it was a big undertaking. The commissioners office had finally seen enough and informed crew chief Bill Miller to suspend it. "The field took a lot of water," Miller said in a statement. "It was going to take 45 minutes to get ready and another storm was forecast to hit. ... Both managers agreed it was best." No reason to risk injury, especially after the Giants had two pitchers strain hamstrings the day before -- on a dry field, no less. "It just made sense," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "This is the smartest thing to do." Wilin Rosario tied the game at 2 when he hit into a double play in the fifth. Hunter Pence had a solo homer for the Giants in the fourth and Pablo Sandoval drove in another run with a double later in the inning. Sandoval also had a solo homer overturned by a challenge in the second. He lined a shot down the left-field line that was ruled a homer, sending Sandoval trotting around the bases as left fielder Corey Dickerson repeatedly pointed that the ball was foul. Manager Walt Weiss challenged the call and it was changed. Sandoval stepped back into the batters box and flew out to centre. "I didnt think itt was fair, but it was blowing out," Sandoval said.dddddddddddd "Thats part of the game." Fans were ushered out of their seats and sent to the concourse area as a storm rolled through the city, complete with lightning, heavy rain and even a brief tornado warning for the vicinity. The second wave of weather wasnt nearly as severe. Neither starter returned after the first stoppage. Jorge De La Rosa was cruising along, too, not allowing a hit and striking out three in three innings. The hard-throwing lefty has been bothered by a balky back and given the length of the delay, the Rockies went to the bullpen. He understood the decision. "With this weather, I think its the best thing they take me out," said De La Rosa, whos won five straight decisions. The Giants made the same call with Tim Hudson, who went three innings and allowed one run before exiting. Hudson missed his start last Friday because of a strained left hip. Plus, the elevation of the Mile High City was getting to him. "Ten days off not pitching at game speed can be challenging from a stamina standpoint," Hudson said. "Its kind of hard to catch your breath out here, too." Hudson has never won at Coors Field. "Still on my bucket list," he said. Cuddyer gave the Rockies a 1-0 lead in the second when his two-out infield single drove in Rosario. The Colorado lineup was missing slugger Carlos Gonzalez, who sat out because of a swollen left index finger. "We did treatment during the game," Gonzalez said. "Its making progress -- slowly, but I know its going to be fine." NOTES: The Giants placed RHP Santiago Casilla (strained right hamstring) on the disabled list Thursday and recalled RHP George Kontos from Triple-A Fresno. ... The Giants will give starter Matt Cain (strained right hamstring) a "couple of days and re-evaluate once we get back to San Francisco," Bochy said. Cain felt a twinge in his hamstring after his final pitch in the third before leaving Wednesdays game. ... The Giants return home for a three-game series against Minnesota. ... Colorado embarks on a nine-game road swing starting Friday in Atlanta. ' ' '