The Cleveland Guardians extended their winning streak to three games on Tuesday, using small ball to beat the Minnesota Twins 5-2.
Austin Hedges and Petey Halpin hit sacrifice flies in the sixth inning, with Halpin's fly ball giving the Guardians a 4-2 lead. This was just one day after the team hit seven homers in a win over the Twins.
In the game, Cleveland starter Parker Messick allowed two runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out six and not walking a batter. Colin Holderman got the final out in the inning to qualify for the win.
The Twins took an early lead when Ryan Jeffers hit his ninth homer, a two-out shot off Messick in the first. However, the Guardians tied it in the third when Hedges walked and scored on a double by Steven Kwan.
Josh Bell doubled and scored when Messick mishandled a comebacker from Royce Lewis to tie the game 2-2 in the fourth. The Guardians then took the lead in the sixth when Cleveland loaded the bases and Paredes yielded a go-ahead sac fly to Hedges.
Later, Taylor Rogers entered and surrendered a sac fly to Halpin after Travis Bazzana and Arias pulled off a double steal for a 4-2 lead. Rogers also gave up a two-out RBI single to Bazzana in the seventh.
Hunter Gaddis pitched a scoreless 1 1/3 innings before Cade Smith closed it out in the ninth for his 29th save — tops in the majors. The Twins have now lost four straight games.
Up next, the Twins will face the Guardians again on Wednesday, with RHP Bailey Ober (7-3, 4.32) starting opposite Guardians RHP Slade Cecconi (4-6, 4.55).
Source: Yahoo Sports