Twins 3, Guardians 1: Taj Bradley Pitches Twins Past Sloppy Guardians in Series Opener

Box Score
SP: Taj Bradley 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 K (101 pitches, 67 strikes (66%))
Home Runs: N/A
Top 3 WPA: Bradley (0.36), Kody Clemens (0.14), Ryan Kreidler (0.10)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) 

The Twins lost their All-Star, Byron Buxton, to a hip strain on Tuesday, right as their division rivals rolled into Target Field. Minnesota's suddenly swinging merry band of Triple-A players would have to step up to keep the happy music playing against a tough young lefty in Joey Cantillo, who hadn't allowed more than two runs in an outing since early June. The Twins also had a young hurler on a bit of a hot streak in Taj Bradley. The stage was set for a classic low-scoring, one-run ballgame.

Sharp Bradley + Sloppy Guardians = 2-1 Twins Lead
Bradley was in complete command over the first four frames, save for one low fastball that Rhys Hoskins deposited into the bullpen just left of dead center field in the second. The righty racked up seven strikeouts on only 55 pitches through the fourth, setting himself up for a lengthy outing. 

In the bottom of the second inning, the Cleveland infield took turns trying to give the Twins back the lead. The frame started with Kody Clemens reaching on a boot by the All-Star Travis Bazzana, and he moved to second on a poor fielder's choice attempt by usually-elite shortstop Brayan Rocchio on a slow chopper by Ryan Kreidler. Next, Luke Keaschall hit a grounder to first baseman Kyle Manzardo, who promptly didn't throw to second, and then didn't get the out at first because Cantillo wasn't covering. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Kyler Fedko had his hero moment. Fedko continued his 0-for-career with a strikeout, threatening the whole situation in a must-win game. Luckily, Austin Martin connected with a sacrifice fly to tie the game, and Brooks Lee delivered yet again with a seeing-eye single up the middle to snatch the lead back, 2-1.

Rocchio couldn't snag a smash grounder to start the bottom of the third, and then third baseman Daniel Schneemann got into the mix of sloppiness by butchering a hot grounder from Kreidler for a double to put runners at second and third with only one out. Keaschall failed to connect, setting up Fedko for hero moment number two. Cue the 0-16 memes. It was still 2-1 Twins after multiple threats, and it would remain that way as the teams rolled into the middle innings.

Bradley Continues to Deal, Clemens Delivers Insurance
Bradley kept the Guardians off the scoreboard through the seventh inning. That included stranding a leadoff double in that final frame to complete his night with 10 strikeouts and 23 whiffs—and, most importantly, only one run allowed. Meanwhile, the Twins' bats couldn't muster anything of note without Guardians help, until Josh Bell started the bottom of the seventh with a ringing single up the middle. With two outs and a lefty on the mound, Clemens went the other way for a deep fly ball that Steven Kwan couldn't snowcone. As Kwan kicked the ball around for a bit, the young-at-heart Bell scampered home and Clemens celebrated the new 3-1 lead on third base. All-Star Kody Clemens?

Andrew Morris, Taylor Rogers, and Yoendrys Gómez took care of business in the eighth and ninth innings, and a tense, close, important game against the Guardians was never really in doubt for the Twins. That was a sentence I've been waiting my whole life to type. Kudos to Rogers for passing Caleb Thielbar for the most appearances at Target Field by any Twins hurler. Also, kudos to Derek Shelton for pulling Rogers after a two-out walk put the tying run at the plate. This win needed to happen, and the Twins did what they needed to do to secure it.

What’s Next?
The Twins look to win the series on Wednesday night, sending lefty Connor Prielipp (2-5, 4.96 ERA) to the mound in search of some revenge for an earlier loss in Cleveland. The Guardians will counter with righty Slade Cecconi (4-6, 4.44 ERA), who hasn't faced the Twins yet this season. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 pm CDT.

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