Twins stop Guardians’ 10-game win streak, keep Cleveland from tying for AL Central lead with 6-2 win

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Brooks Lee launched a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning, and pinch-hitter Royce Lewis followed with a three-run blast in the seventh, helping the Minnesota Twins snap the Cleveland Guardians’ 10-game winning streak with a 6-2 win on Sunday.

The loss was just Cleveland’s fourth in their last 20 games and cost them a chance to tie Detroit atop the AL Central, after the Braves completed a sweep of the Tigers with their own 6-2 victory. Cleveland will now host Detroit in a pivotal three-game series starting Tuesday.

After being outscored 20-2 and never leading through the first three games of the series, the Twins flipped the script. Luke Keaschall opened the sixth with a one-out double off Erik Sabrowski, setting up Lee’s 16th homer — a shot off reliever Matt Festa (5-4) that gave Minnesota a 3-2 lead.

In the seventh, Tim Herrin allowed back-to-back two-out singles to Kody Clemens and Austin Martin before Hunter Gaddis came on in relief. Lewis promptly crushed his 13th homer of the year to extend the Twins’ lead to four.

Cleveland struck first when Steven Kwan hit the third pitch of the game from Twins starter Simeon Woods Richardson out of the park for his 11th homer. Bo Naylor added a sacrifice fly later in the inning, giving the Guardians a 2-0 lead. Naylor now has RBIs in six straight games — the longest streak by a Cleveland catcher since Victor Martinez’s seven-game run in 2007.

Minnesota finally got on the board in the third inning after Byron Buxton doubled with two outs and scored on a single from Clemens, snapping a 23-inning scoreless drought.

Woods Richardson pitched five innings for the Twins, giving up two runs on three hits. Kody Funderburk (4-1) earned the win with a scoreless sixth.

Despite the loss, Cleveland (84-72) still won the season series against Minnesota (67-89), taking nine of the 13 matchups.

Lee’s homer marked Minnesota’s first lead of the entire series.

Cleveland’s streak of 16 consecutive starts with at least five innings and no more than two runs allowed came to an end.

Up Next
The Guardians have yet to name a starter for Tuesday’s series opener against Detroit, who will send LHP Tarik Skubal (13-5, 2.23 ERA) to the mound.
The Twins head to Texas to face the Rangers on Tuesday. Starters for both teams remain undecided.