Twins win AL Central and Thome belts homer No. 589

Jim Thome defies the Sports Illustrated cover jinx -- so far.

The day after word spread that Jim Thome was the subject of this week's SI cover story, he slammed career home run No. 589, and No. 25 for the season, as the Twins claimed the American League Central title with a 6-4 win over Cleveland.

It was their sixth division title in nine seasons, but the funny thing was, hardly any fans were on hand to join in the celebration at Target Field. Most had gone home after the game because the division championship wouldn't be nailed down until the White Sox-Athletics game was over later in the evening -- and Chicago lost.

But some die-hard fans stuck around the Twins dugout for the broadcast of the White Sox demise. When that happened, a small, dedicated helping of pandemonium broke out in Target Field.

Forty-year-old Thome, meanwhile, was down in the locker room dumping garbage cans of water on his teammates; he's one step closer to his first World Series title.

Let's hope the mythical jinx doesn't hold. Read about it here.