Guardians Rally to Defeat Twins in Minnesota

The Cleveland Guardians were unable to solve Minnesota Twins starter Taj Bradley on Friday, but they attacked their bullpen and scored an impressive 5-2 win at Target Field. Their record is now 75-73, which could put them closer to the top spot in the AL Central depending on the Chicago White Sox’s result.

Bradley tossed six scoreless frames while allowing just one hit, but his four walks increased his pitch count and forced him out before the late innings. After he left, the Guardians pounced on Minnesota’s relievers.

Duked it out and took the first one in Minneapolis!#GuardsBall | #GuardiWins pic.twitter.com/aKur3dvqXE

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) September 12, 2026

Parker Messick, however, kept Cleveland in the game. The rookie lefty, a strong AL Rookie of the Year candidate, pitched 5.1 innings and allowed a single run on three hits and two walks. He struck out five.

The Twins scored the first run of the game in the second frame. Royce Lewis doubled against Messick and brought Kody Clemens home.

Minnesota would take the narrow 1-0 lead into the seventh inning. With Bradley now out of the game, Angel Martinez hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the seventh against left-hander A.J. Minter. Unfortunately for the Guardians, their lead wouldn’t last long.

Safe to say Angel Martínez did not miss this one. 🫪#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/duaYOTHlY8

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) September 12, 2026

In the bottom of the inning, Kaelen Culpepper tied things again against Erik Sabrowski with an RBI single that brought in Austin Martin.

Cleveland would take control of the ballgame in the top of the ninth, though. Travis Bazzana scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch and, later in the inning, Brayan Rocchio hit a two-run double, plating the two Angels: Genao and Martinez.

Cade Smith then pitched a scoreless ninth to secure Cleveland’s victory, a key one in the fight for the Wild Card spot. The Toronto Blue Jays lost, which means the Guardians are now two games ahead in the quest for the final spot.

Bazzana went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and two runs, while Martinez homered and drove in two, as well. The Guardians bullpen combined to toss 3.2 innings of just one run.

The two teams will do it again on Saturday, starting at 4:10 pm ET.