MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 09: Amed Rosario #1 and Steven Kwan #38 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrate a 7-6 victory against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on September 9, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)Photo: Getty Images/David Berding
MINNEAPOLIS, MN--- The Cleveland Guardians had a scare Saturday night as the Twins nearly came back in the 9th inning, but the Guardians managed to hold on, winning the game 6-4. Triston McKenzie had a very solid outing, throwing 7 innings of scoreless baseball giving up 6 hits and striking out 5.
Amed Rosario wanted to start the game off hot early, hitting a 2 run home run in the top of the first. Chris Archer was initially the Twins starter, but only went 2 innings and exited the game due to right pec soreness. Cole Sands then came in for Minnesota, and the Guardians were all over him. In the top of the 3rd, Sands would walk Andres Gimenez with the bases loaded allowing Jose Ramirez to score. Will Benson was then hit by a pitch, bases still loaded that allowed Josh Naylor to score. Benson later in the 8th inning would rob a would-be home run and save the then shut out. The next 2 Guardians runs came in the 4th and 7th innings, a Ramirez RBI single and an Oscar Gonzalez RBI groundball, Naylor got himself caught in a rundown between 2nd and 3rd base, this allowed Ramirez to score from 3rd. Then came the Twins' 9th inning rally. It started with a Gary Sanchez SAC fly that brought home former Cleveland Indian Gio Urshella. Jake Cave then hit an RBI double and was later brought in by a Luis Arraez single. This is when Emmanuel Clase had to come in to finish the job. But the nail biting continued as Carlos Correa hit a groundball to Jose Ramirez, the throw was off, it rolled into right field and Luis Arraez would score from 3rd. Clase did end up saving the game, and the Guardians held on to win 6-4.
The Guardians and Shane Bieber will do battle again with a 2:10 first pitch tomorrow afternoon.