Kyle Manzardo's HR lifts Guardians over Twins

Field Level Media|published: Mon 16th September, 22:12 2024

MLB: Minnesota Twins at Cleveland Guardians

Sep 16, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa (4) reacts after hitting a double during the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Rookie Kyle Manzardo clubbed a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning and the Cleveland Guardians rallied for a 4-3 victory over the visiting Minnesota Twins on Monday night.

Minnesota reliever Griffin Jax (4-5) got out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh with the Twins up 3-2, but the American League Central-leading Guardians (87-64) got to him an inning later.

After Josh Naylor doubled and Lane Thomas struck out, Manzardo sent a blast well into the right field seats for his third career big-league homer -- in his 43rd game -- ultimately giving Cleveland a third straight victory.

The Guardians trailed 3-0 after three frames and got just 2 2/3 innings from starter Matthew Boyd. However, five relievers combined to allow just three hits the rest of the way as the Guardians chipped away and came out on top.

Angel Martinez paced the Cleveland offense with three hits and an RBI.

Meanwhile, starter Pablo Lopez allowed eight hits and walked two but yielded just two runs in 6 1/3 innings for the Twins (79-71), who own the AL's third and final wild-card spot despite being mired in a 9-18 rut. Lopez fanned four.

Things fell apart for Boyd and the Guardians in the third.

Boyd allowed a one-out double to Carlos Correa, then fanned Carlos Santana. However, the left-hander issued back-to-back walks to load the bases.

Correa came home on a passed ball, and Byron Buxton's single to center scored two more runs. Kyle Farmer followed with a single that ended the night for Boyd, who gave up the three runs (two earned) and five hits. Boyd walked three and struck out five.

With two outs in the fifth, Lopez hit Brayan Rocchio with a pitch, and Rocchio went to third when Martinez chipped a double down the right field line before scoring on Andres Gimenez's infield single to pull the hosts within 3-1.

Martinez slapped an RBI single with the bases loaded in the seventh to make it 3-2.

Emmanuel Clase tied a single-season franchise record for Cleveland with his 46th save of the year.

--Field Level Media