"Denard Span played in back-to-back games for the first time since mid-August and had his best game since before the all-star break in Sunday's 6-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.

"That's exactly what we're after here," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "When he leaves here, he'll have confidence that he can go out and do these things, and we'll have confidence that he can go out on the baseball field and play."

Span went 2 for 5 with a triple, a double and two runs scored, and made a terrific sliding catch in center field to rob Travis Hafner of extra bases in the eighth inning. He has been limited to 12 games since suffering a concussion in a home-plate collision June 3 at Kansas City.

In the opener of Saturday's doubleheader, Span played nine innings for the first time since Aug. 13 at Anaheim. He said he didn't feel great Sunday morning but kept it a secret.

"I was kind of just praying I'd be able to get through it, and by the fifth inning I felt better," he said. "Even after two hits (in his first two at-bats) I still didn't feel the best, but I was able to get through it." "