On Thursday evening the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Guardians began their four game series at Target Field.
Cleveland scratched the first run across the plate in the second inning on a Will Brennan RBI single, 1-0 Guardians.
The Twins would score the next three runs. Max Kepler tied the game on a fourth inning RBI single. In the fifth inning, Michael A. Taylor hit his seventh homer of the season 392 feet to give Minnesota the lead. Later in the fifth, Alex Kiriloff drove in a run on a single, 3-1 Twins.
#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/n3D6TMEPt0
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) June 2, 2023
The Guardians ambushed Pablo Lopez and the Twins in the sixth inning with five runs to take a 6-3 lead. Jose Ramirez and Josh Bell each hit an RBI single. Andres Gimenez picked up an RBI on a groundout. Mike Zunino concluded Cleveland’s scoring with a 2 RBI single. Lopez ended up giving up six runs on 5 2/3 innings of work with five strikeouts in a no-decision.
In the eighth inning Minnesota stuck back beginning with a Donovan Solano RBI double to cut the deficit to two. Later in the inning Royce Lewis crushed a two run homer 421 feet to straight away centerfield, tying the game at 6-6.
In the ninth inning Minnesota loaded the bases with no outs… Willi Castro came to the plate and… crack… a flyball to right field that would allow Jeffers to tag up and score, giving the Twins the 7-6 walk-off victory!
Willi Castro gets the job done!#MNTwins 7#ForTheLand 6 pic.twitter.com/WtzTRzhJJ1
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) June 2, 2023
Royce Lewis, Pablo Lopez and Rocco Baldelli met with media after the game:
Royce Lewis crushed a 2-run homer to tie the game in the 8th inning. He talked with @Audra_Martin after the dub! #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/kqXHW6u5Bv
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) June 2, 2023
“It’s one of those wins that makes you really understand that we’re a good team.”
Pablo Lopez gives his thoughts following the win. #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/j8blELrnhO
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) June 2, 2023
“We can turn to anyone on our roster and ask them to do anything.”
Rocco reacts following the 7-6 win! #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/aLmZ3OfJCP
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) June 2, 2023
Minnesota and Clevaland will square off in game two of their four game weekend series on Friday night with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. Game coverage will be available on Apple TV+. Bailey Ober is slated to get the nod for the Twins.
