CLEVELAND — For months, the AL Central was the butt of jokes.

The Minnesota Twins could get the final chuckle.

Jorge Polanco hit a sacrifice fly and Donovan Solano added a three-run triple in Minnesota’s five-run eighth inning because the Twins pushed their result in seven video games over second-place Cleveland with an 8-3 win over the Guardians on Tuesday night time.

Polanco hit a shot deep sufficient to proper off Trevor Stephan (6-6) to attain pinch-runner Joey Gallo and break a 3-3 tie. Later within the inning, Solano’s liner to heart skipped previous outfielder Myles Straw and rolled to the wall, clearing the bases.

By profitable the primary two video games of the essential three-game collection, Minnesota, which has been atop the division since mid-July, moved seven video games above .500 for the primary time in 2023.

More importantly, they in all probability put away the defending division champion Guardians with simply 23 video games left.

PHOTOS: Solano hits 3-run triple, Twins do late injury, beat Guardians 8-3 to open 7-game lead in AL Central

Still, the Twins, who improved 4-1 on this street journey and are enjoying their finest ball this season, aren’t taking something with no consideration.

“It’s the beginning of September,” mentioned supervisor Rocco Baldelli. “We play six-month seasons and we have close to a month left. Nothing changes for us right now. We’ve just got to keep playing good.”

Minnesota’s Christian Vázquez, who hit a game-tying homer within the sixth off Guardians reliever Matt Moore, led off the eighth with a single and Willi Castro doubled down the left-field line. Gallo got here on for Vázquez and scored simply on Polanco’s fly forward of Will Brennan’s throw.

Stephan’s wild pitch made it 5-3, and the right-hander walked two and hit a batter to arrange Solano’s shot - a possible knockout blow for Cleveland.

As the ball obtained by Straw, Solano had one thought.

“Run,” he mentioned with chuckle.

Bo Naylor hit a two-run homer for the Guardians, who have been blown out 20-6 in Monday’s collection opener.

Manager Terry Francona understands the problem his crew is going through. He’s additionally assured the Guardians received’t give up.

“I’ve never been accused of being a math major,” he mentioned. “We need to win and the best way to is to win tomorrow. We certainly didn’t put our best foot forward the last two nights, and I don’t think you can run from what we haven’t done. But until it’s time they make you go home, we’ll keep playing.”

Griffin Jax (6-8) struck out two in a single inning after approaching for starter Sonny Gray, who gave up three runs and 6 hits in six innings. Caleb Thielbar labored the eighth and Emilio Pagán completed up for Minnesota.

With one out, Vázquez belted Moore’s first pitch down the right-field line, the ball ducking into the seats simply contained in the foul pole.

The Guardians obtained a stable outing from rookie Tanner Bibee, who held the Twins to 2 runs and 4 hits in 5 innings one night time after Minnesota unloaded on Lucas Giolito - 9 runs, three innings - in his Cleveland debut.

Afterward, Bibee expressed the crew’s frustration at dropping floor to the Twins.

“Good team for sure,” he mentioned. “We’ve shown them we can beat them, shown them we can compete with them.”

SLAM (DUNK) CHAMP

Minnesota’s Royce Lewis didn’t hit a grand slam, and that’s noteworthy.

Lewis related for his third slam in eight video games Monday, changing into the primary rookie and fourth participant to hit three in a span of eight video games or much less. The others: Jim Northrup (1968, 4 video games), Lou Gehrig (1931, 5) and Larry Parrish (1982, 8).

FRY GUY

David Fry’s proper arm was nonetheless connected Tuesday after the utilityman pitched 4 innings in Monday’s blowout.

Fry threw 64 pitches - all beneath 60 mph - whereas serving to Guardians supervisor Terry Francona protect his bullpen for the rest of the collection.

Francona mentioned Fry was not feeling any worse for put on.

“When you think about it, it’s almost like he was catching,” Francona mentioned. “He’s just throwing it back. He’s intelligent enough and he has enough discipline not to overdo it. He really did a good job because it was a big ask.”

Fry gave up three homers and allowed seven runs and 10 hits. He grew to become the primary Cleveland place participant to pitch at the least 4 innings since Milt Galatzer, who pitched six towards Washington in 1936.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: RHP Chris Paddack, who underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in 2022, will make a rehab begin for Fort Mylers (Low A) on Wednesday. He’ll throw three innings or 50 pitches.

Guardians: Francona mentioned injured starters Triston McKenzie and Shane Bieber stay on observe to face batters later this week at Class A Lake County earlier than happening minor league rehab assignments. The crew has focused Sept. 20 for his or her doable return. Bieber (elbow irritation) has been out since July 9, McKenzie (elbow sprain) since June 17.

UP NEXT

The rivals meet for the ultimate time in 2023 with Guardians rookie RHP Gavin Williams (1-5, 3.46 ERA) beginning towards Twins RHP Joe Ryan (10-8, 4.20).

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