The Minnesota Twins defeated the Cleveland Guardians 11-1 Monday, backed by a season-high 17 hits. Minnesota has won four straight games and six of its past seven.
Twins pitcher Bailey Ober allowed one run over 7 2/3 innings. He has won his last three starts.
Jonah Bride had three of Minnesota’s hits. Six players had at least two hits, including Ryan Jeffers, who hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs. Edouard Julien hit a leadoff home run. Ty France and Byron Buxton each had two hits and two RBIs. Twins offense erupts against Guardians as they were 8 for 14 with runners in scoring position.
Cleveland starting pitcher Gavin Williams allowed four runs and seven hits in two innings. Guardians pitcher Paul Sewald left the game in the fifth inning due to right shoulder inflammation. Shortstop Will Wilson pitched the last two innings, allowing Jeffers’ homer.
The Guardians have allowed 24 runs in their last two games and have lost three straight and four of five. Guardians news and notes indicate the team hopes for a turnaround. Steven Kwan extended his hitting streak to 11 games for Cleveland.
In the second inning, Byron Buxton’s single scored Harrison Bader and Jonah Bride, extending the Twins’ lead to 4-0. Bride, who went 3 for 5 with an RBI, has seven hits in 14 at-bats since joining the team on April 16.
Twins players unavailable include Luke Keaschall (forearm fracture), Matt Wallner (hamstring strain), Willi Castro (oblique strain), Royce Lewis (hamstring strain), Austin Martin (hamstring strain), and Michael Tonkin (shoulder strain). Lewis is expected to play a doubleheader for Triple-A St. Paul Tuesday and could return next week.
Matt Canterino, who had shoulder surgery in March, signed a two-year minor league deal with the Twins after clearing waivers.
Minnesota’s bullpen catcher Frank Nigro performs 10 pushups for each run the team scores.
Manager Rocco Baldelli commented on the team's postgame celebration, saying, “I don’t know what’s going on in there, but I’m liking the sounds of it.”
