Tanner Bibee struck out nine batters over 5 1/3 innings and Steven Kwan had three hits to fuel the Cleveland Guardians to a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday in Minneapolis.
Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez and Tyler Freeman each had an RBI single and Will Brennan added a sacrifice fly during a three-run fourth inning.
Kwan had a double and two singles for his second straight three-hit performance and third of the season. He also scored a run to help the Guardians secure their second three-game winning streak of the campaign.
The lone blemish for Bibee (1-0) was Edouard Julien’s homer to lead off the fifth inning. Bibee allowed just that one run on five hits and did not walk a batter after issuing five free passes in four innings last Saturday during his no-decision against the Oakland Athletics.
Three relievers bridged the gap to Emmanuel Clase, who retired the side in order in the ninth inning to secure his third save of the season.
Carlos Correa had three hits and Willi Castro scored on a wild pitch in the seventh inning for the Twins, who struck out 15 times and were 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
Kwan singled off Pablo Lopez (1-1) to lead off the fourth inning and came around to score the game’s first run after singles by Andres Gimenez and Ramirez. Freeman’s soft single to right-center field plated Ramirez, and Brennan’s sacrifice fly to left brought home Josh Naylor to stake Cleveland to a 3-0 lead.
Minnesota answered in the fifth inning when Julien deposited a 3-1 fastball from Bibee over the wall in left field. Julien’s homer was his first of the season.
Lopez permitted a two-out single to Brennan in the sixth inning before he was relieved by Kody Funderburk, who promptly loaded the bases. Brennan scored to give the Guardians a 4-1 lead after Brayan Rocchio’s sharp grounder handcuffed Correa, but Ramon Laureano was thrown out at home following a rundown.
That closed the book on Lopez, who took the loss after permitting four runs (three earned) on six hits in 5 2/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
