The Twins made it interesting with a ninth-inning rally but the Indians held on for a 4-2 win Wednesday night.
Minnesota needed a win or an Angels loss to clinch their first playoff berth – the second Wild Card position in the American League – since the 2010 team won the division title.
The great news: Chicago beat the Angels on a walk-off homer in the 10th inning.
Cleveland used a hot start on the mound from Danny Salazar and some dominant bullpen innings to hold the Twins to just two hits through eight innings, but Brian Dozier led off the ninth with a single and Jorge Polanco blasted a home run halfway up the foul pole in right field to make it a two-run game.
Cody Allen struck out Eddie Rosario, allowed a sharp single to Byron Buxton and then got Max Kepler to ground out for the final out.
