Jorge Polanco helps Twins gain doubleheader split, Amed Rosario led Guardians to Game 1 win
CLEVELAND — Amed Rosario's clutch two-run single in the eighth inning rallied Cleveland to a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins in the first game of a day-night doubleheader Tuesday, snapping the Guardians' five-game losing streak.
The Twins, though, bounced back several hours later to win the evening game 6-0 behind Jorge Polanco's three RBIs in his first game back from the injured list.
In Game 1, Down 2-1 and in danger of dropping a sixth straight, the Guardians came back against reliever Emilio Pagán (1-3), who walked Myles Straw and rookie Steven Kwan before facing Rosario.
Cleveland's shortstop then slapped a 3-2 pitch through the middle to give the Guardians a major lift. Rosario went 3 for 4 and has five three-hit games in June.
The division rivals are playing five times in four days during a stretch in which they'll meet eight times in 10 days.
Carlos Correa's homer leading off the eighth had given the Twins a 2-1 lead. Correa connected on a 1-0 pitch from reliever Sam Hentges (2-0), driving his ninth homer — and fourth in five games against Cleveland this season — just over the railing in left field.
Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase worked the ninth for his 18th save in 20 tries.
Gilberto Celestino had an RBI triple in the seventh for the Twins, blanked on three hits over the first six innings by Guardians starter Zach Plesac.
Minnesota starter Devin Smeltzer was equally effective, holding the Guardians to just one run and striking out nine in six innings.
Cleveland's run off Smeltzer was a gift. With Rosario on first with a single, Franmil Reyes’ high pop landed inside the line in front of right fielder Max Kepler, who either lost it in the sun or never saw it off the bat.
Twins win Game 2 of doubleheader
Polanco came off an IL stint for lower back tightness and cracked a two-run homer off rookie Konnor Pilkington as the Twins restored their lead in the AL Central to three games over the Guardians by winning the nightcap.
Rookie Josh Winder pitched six stellar innings for the Twins, who shut out the Guardians for the second time in a week. Winder didn't allow a run in six innings.
Byron Buxton and José Miranda also homered in the second game for Minnesota.
Red hot Amed Rosario
Rosario went 1-for-4 in the second game, giving him 37 hits this month, the most in the American League for June. He is hitting .352 in June. His five three-hit game in June give him eight overall this season.
He is hitting .379 vs. Twins this season.
Sandy León back with the Guardians
Plesac threw to catcher Sandy León, who was reacquired in a trade from Cincinnati before the game. The Guardians were in a bind with catcher Austin Hedges going on the injured list with a concussion sustained last weekend.
León was with Cleveland for 25 games in 2020.
More MLB news: Nightengale's Notebook: Heard of Luis Arráez? 'Old-school' Twins infielder is in line for a batting title
Terry Francona remembers pitching as a position player
Looking to save his bullpen for the doubleheader, Guardians manager Terry Francona used utilityman Ernie Clement to pitch the ninth in Monday's 11-1 blowout loss. Clement gave up two runs but got an inning-ending double play.
Francona had a similar experience, pitching as a position player for Milwaukee against Oakland in 1989.
“If you look, we had one strikeout as a staff that day,” he said with a smile. “It was me. Struck out Stan Javier. Then it kind of got me going. Went up to Seattle the next day and hit a home run. For about the next month kind of swung the bat a little better. It was kind of fun.”
Twins injury update
Twins: OF Trevor Larnach (core muscle strain) had successful surgery in Philadelphia. The 25-year-old had been bothered by increasing pain and opted for the operation. He's expected to resume baseball activities in six weeks.
Twins, Guardians pitching matchup for Wednesday
Twins RHP Dylan Bundy (4-4, 4.80 ERA) starts Thursday against Cleveland's Cal Quantrill (4-4, 3.76).
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians snap losing streak in doubleheader split with Twins
