A home run from Giménez in the ninth allows the Guardians to beat the Twins 5-3

Steve Herrick, The Associated Press

CLEVELAND — Andrés Giménez hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning Thursday and the Cleveland Guardians defeated the Minnesota Twins 5-3.

It’s the second game in a row that the Guardians have won thanks to a decisive home run at the very end of the game.

With a count of three balls and two strikes, Giménez rolled up a throw from Tyler Thornburg (0-1) over the center field fence.

The victory went to the record of Emmanuel Clase (2-2).

On Wednesday night, the Twins were unable to protect a 6-3 lead in the 10th inning, during which the Guardians scored four runs and snatched the victory with a two-run homer from Naylor.

“We keep fighting until the end,” Giménez said.

José Ramirez started the inning with a walk, the 10th allowed by the Twins pitchers. An infield ground ball from Josh Naylor got Ramirez to second base and Owen Miller was out on a fly ball to the outfield.

Giménez followed up with his homer, securing the Guardians a 17th win in their last at bat in 2022, a Major League high. Six of those wins have come against their Twins rivals.

The two teams won’t face each other until September. They will then cross swords on seven occasions.

« I’m glad they’re gone, » admitted Guardians manager Terry Francona.

“It’s a lot and they’re good. I thought we gave them a good fight, but they’re good. We will see them again. They are a good team,” repeated Francona.

Thursday morning, when meeting with reporters, Rocco Baldelli, the manager of the Twins, had described Wednesday’s defeat as unsustainable. A few hours later, he was looking for a similar term.

“Probably the toughest series I’ve been involved in. I have never seen five games against a team in four days provide such sensations.

The Guardians have won three of five games in the series and trail the AHL Central Division leaders the Twins by just one game.