CLEVELAND โ In an exhilarating finish, Kyle Manzardo delivered a critical single to send Brayan Rocchio home in the 10th inning, securing a 3-2 triumph for the Cleveland Guardians over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night. This marked Manzardoโs second walk-off hit in the season.
During the 10th inning, Cleveland capitalized on strategic plays, loading the bases against Twinsโ pitcher Kody Funderburk. This came after Steven Kwan singled and Josรฉ Ramรญrez received an intentional walk. Manzardoโs decisive hit to left field allowed automatic runner Rocchio to score, clinching the win for the Guardians.
Cade Smith took charge of the last two innings, earning his third win of the season as Cleveland continued its strong post All-Star break performance, improving their record to 9-5. The game also highlighted Josรฉ Ramรญrezโs achievements, as he drove in Kwan in the opening inning and stole second base, joining an elite group of players with both 275 steals and home runs in their careers.
Adding to the Guardiansโ scoreboard, Rocchio brought Carlos Santana home in the second inning, creating an early 2-0 advantage against Twinsโ pitcher Joe Ryan, who managed to hold Cleveland scoreless across six innings. Guardiansโ starter Gavin Williams showcased his skill by striking out eight batters over six innings without allowing a score.
The Twins evened the score 2-2 in the seventh after a costly error by Guardians pitcher Hunter Gaddis led to runs from Brooks Lee and Christian Vรกzquez. This error was a key moment as Gaddis attempted an unnecessary throw to first base on a hit by Martin, leading to an overthrow past first baseman Santana and allowing both runners to score.
Before the game, the Twins shook up their roster, promoting eight players from Triple-A St. Paul, and completing nine trades before the transaction deadline. This roster movement left them with one less player than the limit, showcasing a whirlwind of activity as they swapped 26 players in just four days.
Looking ahead, the Guardiansโ Tanner Bibee, with a 7-9 record and a 4.39 ERA, hopes to extend his winning streak to four games as he takes the mound on Saturday. Meanwhile, Bailey Ober will return to the Twinsโ lineup, starting for the first time in a month following an injury.