CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 19: Amed Rosario #1 and Oscar Gonzalez #39 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrate an 11-4 win against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field on September 19, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio.Photo: Ron Schwane/Getty Images
The Cleveland Guardians capped off the season series against the Minnesota Twins in dominating fashion, winning this afternoon's contest, 11-4. With this victory, the Guardians won 13 of 19 meetings this season, and push the Twins (73-74) to seven games back in the AL Central Division. Cal Quantrill improves to 13-5 with the win, allowing three runs in 5 1/3 innings, and Sam Hentges earned his first career save, holding the Twins hitless in 2 1/3 innings. Sonny Gray drops to 8-5 with the loss, giving four runs before leaving the game with an injury.
Josh Naylor put the Guardians on the board with a three-run home run the first inning, then Steven Kwan tripled for the sixth time in the second inning to drive in Myles Straw and extend the lead to 4-0. The Twins rallied in the fourth with the first two runners reached base and scored on Nick Gordon's RBI single, and Gio Urshela's RBI groundout. Gordon kept it going in the sixth with a solo homerun to bring the Twins within a run. After a quick out, the next three Twins reached base, but Naylor turned an unassisted double play by catching a line drive and doubling up Matt Wallner at first base.
Amed Rosario pushed the lead back to four with a three-run home run in the bottom of the frame. Jose Miranda delivered the Twins' final run on a double play in the seventh, but went hitless for the rest of the game. Up 7-4, the Guardians added four runs in the eighth - Luke Maile homered, Rosario scored on a wild pitch, and Jose Ramirez and Andrez Giminez each hit an RBI single.
Five Guardians collected multiple hits, while Rosario and Naylor each drove in three runs. Six of Cleveland's 14 hits went for extra bases, including two triples (Kwan and Straw).
The Guardians (80-67) hit the road for the final time this season for six games, starting tomorrow night for three games against the Chicago White Sox (76-71). The Guardians lead the season series 9-7 and hold a four-game division lead over Chicago.