CLEVELAND — Cliff Lee didn’t get a win Wednesday night, but the Indians did.
Lee’s unparalleled march to the Cy Young Award hit a snag for one of the few times this season in the series finale against Minnesota, with the left-hander offering up a less-than-dominant performance.
No matter.
Thanks in large part to shortstop Jhonny Peralta, the Indians were still able to salvage a 6-4 victory, while preventing Lee from taking his first loss since July 6.
Peralta drove in two of Cleveland’s runs — the first on a solo homer to score his team’s first run in the fourth, the second on a double in the seventh that broke a 4-all tie and put the Indians in front for good.
The win completed a three-game sweep for the Indians, who dealt a significant blow to the Twins’ playoff hopes. Second-place Minnesota lost only one game in the Central Division standings to front-running Chicago during the series, but failed to gain ground in the race while playing a team it had dominated for much of the year, going 10-5 against Cleveland entering the series.
The Twins had much more to lose, and they did.
“They’re playing for something. On our side, we’re playing for something, too,” said Indians manager Eric Wedge, who tied Roger Peckinpaugh (1928-33, 1941) for fifth in all-time victories (490) for the club.
“It tells you all you need to know about this team’s character.”
Lee, who entered his 30th start of the season with the majors’ best record (22-2) and ERA (2.36), left without a decision after allowing four runs (three earned) on 10 hits through 6 1/3 innings — in his final start of the year at Progressive Field.
Lee did not have his usual command of the game early, but was still able to get through six innings, while allowing two runs on eight hits.
Lee lost his chance for win No. 23 in a two-run seventh from the Twins, who tied the game before Lee departed on a ground out from Justin Morneau, followed by a single from Delmon Young.
Had Lee won, he would have joined Hall of Famer Lefty Grove (1931) as the only pitchers since 1900 to record 23 wins in 25 decisions.
“It was definitely a battle,” said Lee, who threw 113 pitches, a high count for the innings he worked. “(The Twins) made me work quite a bit. I got about as deep as I could.”
Lee, who had won his last 11 decisions coming in, got a visit from Wedge during his final inning of work after allowing a double to Joe Mauer that left runners on second and third and no out, with Morneau coming to the plate.
After a brief discussion, Wedge let Lee continue, with the Twins tying it two batters later.
“He’s earned the right to have that opportunity,” Wedge said.
“I feel good about giving the team a chance to win,” Lee said, “but I’m kind of frustrated that I gave up the runs in the seventh. I could tell I didn’t have my best stuff. That happens.”
Despite the un-Lee like effort, the Progressive Field crowd showed its appreciation by showering the pitcher with a standing ovation as he made his way to the dugout. Once he was inside, the fans attempted to usher Lee out for a curtain call, but he didn’t budge.
“I was so focused on what had just happened and I was kind of frustrated,” said Lee, explaining why he didn’t grant the fans’ request. “I apologize for that. I was caught up in the moment.”
“I heard it,” Wedge said of the crowd’s response. “I thought it was something that was very deserving. I was proud to hear our fans with that reaction, which is obviously their appreciation for the year he’s had.”
Lee, who didn’t suffer a loss in 14 starts at home (10-0), is scheduled to make two more starts before the regular season is complete — at Boston on Tuesday and at Chicago in the season finale, Sept. 28.
Solo homers from Peralta and Travis Hafner tied the game at 2 in the fourth. Hafner, who missed more than three months with an ailing right shoulder, hit his first homer since May 16 at Cincinnati, connecting on a 1-2 pitch from Twins starter Scott Baker and sending it an estimated 430 feet over the wall in right-center.
Cleveland forged ahead for good on consecutive RBI doubles from Peralta and Victor Martinez, with Jensen Lewis retiring three of the four batters he faced in the ninth for his 10th save in 11 chances.
Lewis was pitching for the fourth straight day after working two innings in Tuesday’s 11-inning victory.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.

NEXT UP

WHO: Cleveland vs. Detroit
WHEN: Friday, 7:05 p.m.
WHERE: Progressive Field
PITCHERS: Carmona (8-7, 5.16 ERA) vs. Galarraga (12-6, 3.58)
TV/RADIO: SportsTime Ohio; WTAM 1100-AM

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