Matt Wallner's three-run homer powered Minnesota to its second win of the day.
Matt Wallner hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning that powered the Twins to a 6-3 win over the Guardians Friday night in the second game of a doubleheader at Target Field in Minneapolis. That completed the sweep of the doubleheader for the Twins, whoWith two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning with a 3-0 count, Wallner took a sinker down the middle from Guardians starter Alex Cobb and sent it 390 feet into right field, leaving no doubt.
Varland, a North St. Paul native, gave up eight hits overall and the three runs while fanning four in his start. Cobb, making his first start of the season for Cleveland after being sidelined while recovering from a left hip procedure, gave up nine hits and four runs while fanning one across 4 2/3 innings.
The Guardians gifted the Twins a pair of runs in the first and second innings as Minnesota took a 2-0 lead. In the first, Guardians catcher Austin Hedges made an unnecessary throw to second base in an attempt to catch Wallner stealing, but Royce Lewis had drawn a walk, which would have advanced Wallner to second base anyway. The mistake allowed Willi Castro to steal home for a 1-0 Twins lead.
In the second inning, Austin Martin hit an infield single, but the throw to first base from Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio was off the mark, which allowed Christian Vazquez — who singled the previous at-bat — to score from first base as he beat the eventual throw to home for a 2-0 lead. The Guardians also gifted the Twins an insurance run, and it came on another nice base running play from Vazquez in the seventh. Vazquez was aggressive down the third-base line and got Guardians reliever Tim Herrin to balk, which brought him in to make it a 6-3 Twins lead. The sequence eventually led to theCole Sands relieved Varland in the fifth inning and struck out Daniel Schneemann to strand a pair and then pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Twins use Matt Wallner as pitcher in 13-run loss to MetsSix different players took the mound for the Twins Monday night's 15-2 loss, including outfielder Matt Wallner
Read more »
Byron Buxton, Matt Wallner homer in Twins' 8-3 win over MetsBig blasts from Byron Buxton and Matt Wallner powered the Twins in their series finale 8-2 win over the Mets Wednesday.
Read more »
Underrated Bills LB speaks on Matt Milano’s health: ‘We’ve seen Matt be Matt’Buffalo Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard feels as though Matt Milano has made a complete recovery from his 2023 tibia fracture.
Read more »
Guardians, Minnesota Twins series preview, pitching matchupsThe Guardians go into a four-game series against the Twins having lost five straight games.
Read more »
Outfielder Lane Thomas couldn’t wait to join new team: Guardians breakfastGuardians new outfielder hopped on a red-eye flight to join the Guardians in Detroit.
Read more »
Guardians get back to playing ‘Guardians baseball’ in win vs. Tigers (Podcast)Paul Hoynes and Joe Noga break down a big night for José Ramírez and the Guards.
Read more »