Matt Wallner went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer, and the Minnesota Twins pulled away for a 6-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians in the second game of a doubleheader Friday night in Minneapolis.
Willi Castro stole home for the Twins, who won both games of the day-night doubleheader. Minnesota moved within 1 1/2 games of Cleveland for first place in the American League Central.
Josh Naylor hit a three-run homer to lead Cleveland at the plate. The Guardians lost their seventh game in a row, extending their worst streak of the season.
Twins right-hander Cole Sands (6-1) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory. Sands followed starter Louie Varland, who allowed three runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Guardians right-hander Alex Cobb (0-1) lost his season debut as well as his team debut. He gave up five runs (four earned) on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Twins reliever Trevor Richards earned his first save of the season and the second save of his career. He pitched a scoreless ninth and struck out one.
Castro gave the Twins a 1-0 lead in the first when he stole home. It was his 12th steal of the season and his second of the day after he swiped a bag in the opening game of the doubleheader.
Christian Vazquez made it 2-0 in the second when he scored on a throwing error by Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio.
Naylor put Cleveland on top 3-2 in the fifth with a three-run blast to right field. The shot gave him 26 homers and 85 RBIs on the season.
In the bottom of the fifth, Wallner answered with his own three-run blast to give the Twins a 5-3 lead. It was his seventh homer.
Minnesota finished the scoring with one more run in the seventh. Vazquez scored on a balk by Guardians reliever Tim Herrin.
–Field Level Media