After winning the first two games of the series on Monday and Tuesday, the Cleveland Guardians dropped Wednesday’s affair 10-6 against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field. Jose Ramirez made his long-awaited return from his hamate bone injury and had a good game, but it wasn’t enough, and his team fell to 54-49.
Slade Cecconi was battered for seven runs in 4.2 innings of work, allowing seven hits and three walks while striking out five. His ERA rose to 4.60 and his record fell to 4-7.
Series on the line tomorrow.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/zfpneOBbAv
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) July 23, 2026
Trevor Larnach greeted Cecconi with a leadoff homer, but Brayan Rocchio singled in Ramirez to tie the game in the bottom part of the inning. The Guardians’ offense made it clear that it was going to keep the team in the game as long as the pitching staff held up. It didn’t.
Cleveland actually took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the second, though. Patrick Bailey roped an RBI single that plated Kyle Manzardo, and Ramirez drove in Bailey with a single of his own.
It wouldn’t take long for the Twins to even the score again. In the top of the third, Brooks Lee singled in Alex Jackson to cut the Guardians’ lead to one, and Josh Bell drove in Trevor Larnach on a fielder’s choice to tie the game.
The Twins took control of the ballgame in the fourth frame. Alex Jackson hit an RBI single to score Alan Roden and give Minnesota the lead. The big blow came courtesy of Brooks Lee, who hit a three-run shot that made things 7-3.
J-Ram drove in Petey Halpin on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the fourth to cut Minnesota’s lead to 7-4. At that point, both offenses would cease fire until the eighth inning, when the Twins scored three more times against Matt Festa, although only one of them was earned. Larnach roped a two-run single, and then Josh Bell hit another RBI knock to make things 10-4.
Manzardo hit his 11th homer of the year for the Guardians’ fifth run in the bottom of the eighth, but it wouldn’t be enough to turn the score around. He actually added an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to put the game 10-6.
Steven Kwan racked up three hits at the top of the Guardians’ lineup, and Manzardo had a double, a homer, and a single. Ramirez went 2-for-5 with a run and two RBI in his return.
The series will end on Thursday at 1:10 pm ET. Taj Bradley will face Gavin Williams.
NEXT: Guardians Named Among Best Fits For Rising Giants Outfielder
