Cuddyer keep Twins in playoff chase with 7-3 win

Michael Cuddyer homered, doubled and drove in three runs Wednesday and the Minnesota Twins beat the Cleveland Indians 7-3 for a three-game sweep.

Joe Mauer singled twice, raising his major league-leading batting average to .374, and drove in two runs as the Twins won their fourth in a row.

Minnesota began the day 4 1/2 games behind Detroit in the AL Central. The Tigers were home Wednesday night against Kansas City, then visit the Metrodome for a three-game set beginning Friday.

Matt LaPorta homered and had three RBIs for Cleveland, which has lost four straight and 13 of 16.

Nick Blackburn (10-11) allowed two earned runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings for his second win in 12 starts since the All-Star break. He lowered his second-half ERA from 7.36 to 6.90.

Joe Nathan struck out the final two batters for his 41st save in 46 chances.

Cuddyer homered leading off the fifth and added an RBI double in the seventh. The home run was the second in three games for Cuddyer, who hit a three-run shot to lead Monday's 6-3 comeback win.

Blackburn came up with his third solid start in four outings. The lone blip was last Friday, when he allowed six earned runs in three innings against Oakland.

Blackburn retired the Indians in order three times in the first four innings, and got out of a two-on, no-out jam in the fifth when Kelly Shoppach grounded into a double play and Trevor Crowe grounded out.

For the second straight start, Aaron Laffey (7-6) gave up six earned runs and a career-high 12 hits. His own mistake put him behind.

With two outs in the third, Laffey dropped a soft toss covering first base for an error. Cuddyer followed with an RBI single for a 1-0 lead.

Laffey walked No. 9 hitter Nick Punto with two outs in the fourth. Denard Span followed with an RBI single, and Mauer had a two-run single two batters later for a 4-0 lead.

LaPorta hit a two-run shot in the seventh and added an RBI single in the eighth before Shoppach popped out with the bases loaded.

Notes:@ Mauer has established a career-high with 87 RBIs. ... This was Minnesota's seventh series sweep of the year. ... Cleveland is a season-worst 23 games under .500. ... Indians SS Asdrubal Cabrera left the game after fouling a pitch off his right knee in the ninth inning.