Andres Gimenez had three hits, including a game-ending RBI single in the 10th inning, as the Cleveland Guardians clinched a playoff spot by rallying to defeat the visiting Minnesota Twins 3-2 on Thursday.
With Minnesota’s Caleb Thielbar (2-4) on the mound and Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez as the automatic runner at second base in the 10th, Josh Naylor struck out, before Lane Thomas was intentionally walked. Gimenez then laced a hit to right field to end it.
Kyle Manzardo had three hits, including a solo home run for Cleveland (89-65) which won for the fifth time in six games to earn at least a wild-card spot in the upcoming playoffs.
Joey Cantillo gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits over 4 1/3 innings for the Guardians, while six relievers did not give up a hit over the final 5 2/3 innings. Eli Morgan (3-0) pitched a scoreless 10th inning to earn the win.
Simeon Woods Richardson gave up one run on five hits over 4 2/3 innings for Minnesota (80-73) with six strikeouts. Manuel Margot drove in a run as the Twins lost for the fifth time in seven games.
The loss dropped the Twins into a tie with the Detroit Tigers for the final American League wild-card spot.
Cleveland took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Manzardo’s fourth homer of the season.
After the Twins’ Kyle Farmer doubled in the fifth, Matt Wallner struck out before Willi Castro walked. Margot then doubled to center, leading to Lane Thomas’ two-run fielding error and giving Minnesota a 2-1 lead.
With Minnesota’s Cole Irvin on the mound in the bottom of the sixth, three singles loaded the bases before Rocchio hit a sacrifice fly to center for a 2-2 tie.
In the 10th, Morgan (3-0) hit Wallner with a pitch to put Twins runners on first and second with nobody out. After Castro’s sacrifice bunt advanced both runners, Margot walked to load the bases. Morgan retired Carlos Correa on a pop up and Byron Buxton on a line out to escape the jam.
–Field Level Media