Guardians’ 10-game winning streak snapped by Twins

MINNEAPOLIS — It was close to a perfect weekend for the Guardians, but Sunday afternoon will go into the books as a missed opportunity to make the AL Central race even tighter.

Brooks Lee and Royce Lewis homered and five Twins pitchers combined to cool off the Guardians†bats as Minnesota claimed the finale of a four-game series with a 6-2 victory at Target Field and snapped Clevelandâ€s 10-game winning streak.

The loss capped a 6-1 road trip through Detroit and Minnesota and was the Guardians†24th game in a 24-day stretch dating back to Aug. 29. They went 18-6 overall and won 15 of their past 17. And yet, in many senses their work is just beginning.

The stage is now set for a huge three-game series between the Tigers and Guardians starting on Tuesday night at Progressive Field. Cleveland has clawed its way back from 15 1/2 games out of first place to pull within a game of Detroit, which entered the weekend with a 3 1/2-game lead before getting swept at home by Atlanta. The Guardians also hold a 6-4 lead in the season series, which would come into play if the teams finish with the same record.

The loss also moved Cleveland a half-game back of the Astros for the final Wild Card spot, a position the club regained when Houston fell to Seattle later Sunday night.

“We couldn’t be more excited to get back home,†manager Steven Vogt said. “I know it’s school nights, I know people work, but we need our fans. We need to pack out Progressive. … The boys are ready. We know whatâ€s at stake, and it’s going to be a lot of fun this week.â€

Vogtâ€s team gained 9 1/2 games on the Tigers over the past 24 days, and it was made possible by a group of players that decided it would be more fun to fight to the end rather than pack it in when the outlook was bleak.

“I think this last month, a lot of people could say we were out of it,†said outfielder Steven Kwan, who led off Sundayâ€s game with his 11th homer of the season. “I think [players] could have started looking at their numbers and just tried to look to the offseason. But we’ve been playing some really unselfish baseball, grinding together, sticking together. It’s been really fun, and weâ€ve got a really exciting week coming up.â€

Pitching has carried the Guardians of late, especially the starting rotation. Joey Cantillo gave up one run in 4 1/3 innings on Sunday, extending the franchise record to 17 straight games in which the starting pitchers have given up two or fewer earned runs. That includes Saturdayâ€s doubleheader shutout, when Slade Cecconi and Logan Allen combined to pitch 15 scoreless innings.

The scoreless streak reached 23 innings before the Twins got on the board in the third inning, when Kody Clemens†RBI single cut the Guardians†lead to 2-1. The Twins then took their first lead of the series when they pounced on a couple of rare mistakes from relievers David Festa and Hunter Gaddis. Leeâ€s two-run homer off Festa put the Twins on top 3-2 in the sixth, and Lewis†pinch-hit, three-run homer off Gaddis in the seventh provided Minnesota some breathing room.

“I haven’t seen the replays, but it looked like Festa kind of yanked a fastball down to Lee, and then [Gaddis] just didn’t quite get the slider down to Lewis,†Vogt said. “But these guys have been throwing so well. Two mistakes, and they made us pay for them.â€

Still, considering how far the Guardians have come, the ground theyâ€ve made up and the exciting finish still to come, one loss doesnâ€t put a damper on what theyâ€ve accomplished and what theyâ€ve learned about themselves along the way.

“I couldn’t be more proud of this group — 24 games in 24 days, and to do what we did and put ourselves into a position where we have an opportunity to earn our way into the postseason,†Vogt said. “That’s all you can ask for. Obviously, ending on a note like today, it can get you down, but this won’t get this group down. We’re going to come ready to go on Tuesday.â€

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