The Cleveland Guardians kept up the momentum and beat the Minnesota Twins 5-2 on Tuesday night at Progressive Field. They had taken the series opener on Monday, too, and are now 54-48.
Parker Messick allowed just one earned run and two in total in 5.2 innings. It wasn’t enough to get the win, but he paved the way for the bullpen and lowered his season ERA to 2.68. The All-Star lefty surrendered four hits and walked no one, fanning six hitters. These starts are becoming the norm with him.
A pair of wins. We'll call 'em twins. 🤷♂️#GuardsBall | #GuardiWWins pic.twitter.com/LGuixA9x5X
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) July 22, 2026
The Twins struck first in the opening frame, though. Ryan Jeffers, a candidate to be moved ahead of the deadline, hit his ninth homer of the year to make things 1-0.
The Guardians, however, flipped the score in the bottom of the third. Austin Hedges opened the inning with a walk, and after one out, the red-hot Steven Kwan doubled to tie the game. Later that frame, Brayan Rocchio’s single plated Kwan with the go-ahead run.
Unfortunately for Cleveland, Minnesota would knot things again in the fourth, with Royce Lewis reaching on Messick’s error and allowing Josh Bell to cross home plate.
The Guardians took control of the game in the bottom of the sixth. Khalil Watson roped a leadoff double, Travis Bazzana was hit by a pitch, and Gabriel Arias singled to load the bases. Hedges drove in the go-ahead run with a sac fly, and Petey Halpin plated Bazzana with another sac fly on a play that had to be reviewed.
Shawn Armstrong got into some trouble in the seventh, but Hunter Gaddis bailed him out by getting out of the inning with two runners on. He got the Twins’ most dangerous hitter, Byron Buxton, to fly out.
Bazzana drove in Kyle Manzardo in the bottom of the inning with a single, making things 5-2 in Cleveland’s favor. After a cold spell leading up to the All-Star Game, the Guardians’ rookie appears to be trending in the right direction again.
Gaddis completed the eighth, and Cade Smith worked a scoreless ninth for his 29th save. The Guardians committed two errors, but collected nine hits and enjoyed a phenomenal pitching performance.
Rocchio, Chase DeLauter, and Arias racked up two hits each. Kwan and Watson doubled, and Bazzana and Arias each stole a base.
The series will continue on Wednesday at 6:40 pm ET. Slade Cecconi will face Bailey Ober.
NEXT: Stephen Vogt Urges Patience With Struggling Guardians Slugger
