Twins hang on to beat Guardians for 3rd straight win

Field Level MediaField Level Media|published: Tue 7th July, 22:17 2026
Jul 7, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Taj Bradley (26) delivers a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn ImagesJul 7, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Taj Bradley (26) delivers a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Kody Clemens went 2-for-4 with an RBI triple, and the Minnesota Twins held on for a 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night in Minneapolis.

Austin Martin and Brooks Lee added one RBI apiece for Minnesota, which took the opener of a three-game series. The Twins have won three games in a row.

Rhys Hoskins hit a solo homer for Cleveland's only run. Chase DeLauter went 2-for-3 with a double for the Guardians, who dropped their third straight game.

Twins right-hander Taj Bradley (8-3) allowed one run on three hits. He struck out 10 without a walk.

Guardians left-hander Joey Cantillo (7-4) took the hard-luck loss after allowing two unearned runs on six hits in five innings. He walked three and struck out seven.


Twins right-hander Yoendrys Gomez got the final out to collect his 10th save.

Cleveland started the scoring in the top of the second. Hoskins belted a 98-mph fastball over the wall in center for his eighth homer of the season and his first since June 19.

The Twins responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second to go ahead 2-1. Martin hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to drive in Minnesota's first run, and Lee followed in the next at-bat with a go-ahead single to center.

The Guardians squandered a leadoff double by DeLauter in the seventh. DeLauter advanced to third on a groundout by Kyle Manzardo, but he was stranded after Hoskins struck out swinging and Brayan Rocchio grounded out to first.

Minnesota made it 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh. Josh Bell hit a leadoff single to center and sprinted home when Clemens ripped a two-out triple to left.

The Twins played without All-Star outfielder Byron Buxton, who was placed on the injured list before the game because of a lingering hip injury.


--Field Level Media

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