Without Closer, Indians Still Streak Toward Wild-Card Spot MINNEAPOLIS - On Thursday night, after a harrowing 6-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians closer Chris Perez reacted to his second consecutive rough outing by walking into Manager Terry Francona's office and essentially firing himself from the job. Perez feared one more flub might ruin his team's wild-card chances. "I really respect the way he handled it," Francona said Saturday morning. "He just said, "Use me how you want." I don't want anybody to think he's backing off or anything like that, because that's not how it was. Francona had been contemplating a change anyway. But the move sent Cleveland into the final weekend of the season on shaky ground in the three-team American League wild-card race. Trying to secure their first playoff berth in six years, the Indians would be without a closer who tallied 100 saves the last three seasons. Two days later, losing Perez as the closer has not hurt the Indians. Cleveland thumped Minnesota, 5-1, after a 2-hour-26-minute rain delay for its ninth consecutive victory, which clinched at least a spot in a wild-card tiebreaker. The former Mets farmhand Scott Kazmir struck out 11 in six innings while allowing one run for the victory. With Texas beating the Los Angeles Angels in Arlington, 7-4, and Tampa Bay losing, 7-2, in Toronto, the Indians (91-70) lead the Rays and the Rangers by a game in the wild-card standings going into the final day of the regular season. An Indians victory Sunday would clinch the top wild card and make Cleveland the host for Wednesday's wild-card play-in game. A loss could complicate things. Should Cleveland, Texas and Tampa Bay finish tied, the berths will be settled by a round robin of sorts. Tampa Bay would play at Cleveland on Monday, with the winner claiming one wild card. The loser then travels to Texas to play the Rangers on Tuesday for the remaining spot. A two-way tie is less dramatic, with no playoff required. Season series records would decide home field for the play-in. A tie for the second wild card, however, means a tiebreaker game Monday. Cleveland designated hitter Jason Giambi, a former Yankee who left Saturday's game in the fifth with a left forearm cramp, said he preferred a simple approach to the final day. "We have to win tomorrow," he said. That's the biggest thing we need to do, take care of that. Because I don't like all the other scenarios, how it works out. Perez, bothered by a sore right shoulder in spring training and in May, has not spoken to reporters since June, when he was charged with marijuana possession. Earlier this month, he pleaded no contest to fourth degree possession, a misdemeanor, accepting a year's probation and a $250 fine. On the mound, Perez's problems began Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox in Cleveland, when he allowed solo home runs to Dayan Viciedo and Alejandro De Aza in the ninth to blow a 3-2 lead. Giambi rescued Perez with a two-run, pinch-hit homer. Giambi, 42, is the oldest player in major league history to hit a game-ending homer. Then Thursday, Perez, trying to hold a 6-1 lead, gave up four runs on four hits before Francona pulled him. Joe Smith, a former Met, gave up two singles before ending the game by striking out Oswaldo Arcia. "That was tough, what happened," Francona said. We don't take those decisions lightly. After that, Francona settled on a closer-by-committee arrangement. But the Indians have not faced a save situation while winning the last two days. Smith finished Saturday's game, retiring the side in order on eight pitches. "It doesn't matter who's throwing when right now," Smith said. All we care about is winning. Whenever he calls your name, go out there and throw up a zero. Stats and all that stuff don't matter. Cleveland amassed its winning streak against the Houston Astros, the White Sox and the Twins, who have the three worst records in the A.L. But Francona knows what can happen on the final day of the season. His tenure as Red Sox manager ended in 2011 with a 4-3 loss when closer Jonathan Papelbon blew a one-run lead to the Baltimore Orioles with two out and nobody on in the ninth to cost Boston the wild card. "I know I'm supposed to come up with some stuff to say," Francona said. But we need to show up and play. We need to be one run better tomorrow, and we go from there.