Josh Naylor hit a pair of tying solo homers and Brayan Rocchio’s RBI single capped a three-run 10th as the Cleveland Guardians beat the visiting Minnesota Twins 5-4 in 10 innings Wednesday night.
Carlos Correa’s two-run single with the bases loaded in the 10th off Hunter Gaddis (5-3) capped a four-RBI night and gave Minnesota (80-72) a 4-2 lead. However, the Twins’ Ronny Henriquez (1-1) allowed RBI singles to Kyle Manzardo and Will Brennan in the bottom of the frame to tie the contest. With one out and runners on the corners against Michael Tonkin, Rocchio bounced a hit over drawn-in Twins first baseman Carlos Santana for the winner.
With a postseason berth nearly clinched, the Guardians (88-65) improved to 13-7 since Aug. 28. They hold a 5 1/2-game lead in the American League Central over the Kansas City Royals, who were playing later Wednesday.
The devastating result for Minnesota — clinging to the third and final AL wild-card spot — overshadowed a stellar effort from starter Bailey Ober. The 6-foot-9 right-hander allowed Naylor’s two homers, two other hits and struck out a career-high 12 in seven innings. The Twins, however, stranded seven runners despite three hits from Matt Wallner in losing two of the first three in this four-game set.
Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee allowed two runs and five hits over 6 2/3 innings. Bibee kept a rather ugly first inning for the Guardians to one run allowed.
Minnesota’s Willi Castro opened the game with a double, went to third on Wallner’s infield hit and scored on Correa’s ground ball to shortstop that ate up Rocchio.
However, the Guardians evened the score in the second with Naylor’s no-doubt shot well into the right field seats for his 30th home run.
Minnesota, though, went back ahead in the top of the fifth. All after two were out, Castro was hit by a Bibee pitch, went to third on Wallner’s single to right field and scored Correa’s infield hit.
Once again, though, Naylor took Ober deep into the right field seats. This time to lead off the seventh and tie the game at 2-2.
The Guardians have recorded 41 comeback victories this season.
