MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Angel Martinez hit a two-run homer and his ninth-inning double was the key to the winning rally as the Cleveland Guardians beat the Minnesota Twins 5-2 on Friday night.
The Guardians held a two-game lead over Toronto in the race for third place in the AL.
Martinez gave the Guardians a 2–1 lead in the seventh, his 15th of the season.
After the Twins tied the game on Kalen Culpepper’s RBI single in the seventh, Martinez hit a two-out double off Yoendris Gomez (2-3) that moved Travis Bazzana to third. Bazzana scored on Gomez’s wild pitch and Brian Rocchio brought home two more doubles.
Hunter Gaddis (4-3) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Cade Smith retired the team in the ninth for his 36th save.
Twins starter Taj Bradley gave up one hit and four walks while striking out six over six scoreless innings.
Parker Messick held the Twins to three hits and one run with two walks and five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.
Bradley walked the leadoff hitter in each of the first three innings and allowed Bazzana to score the leadoff single in the fourth, but the Guardians were unable to advance past second base.
The Twins did little against Messick, hitting just two in the first five innings. But back-to-back hits in the second inning – a single by Cody Clemens and a double by Royce Lewis – put the game in the first.
Next
The Guardians have not announced their starting pitcher for the middle game of the series on Saturday, although LHP Joey Cantillo (9-9, 4.00 ERA) is expected to pitch the bulk of the innings. The Twins will start LHP Connor Prielipp (4-7, 5.25).
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