Guardians Strand 13 Runners in Frustrating 11-Inning Loss to Twins

The Cleveland Guardians wasted multiple chances late in a frustrating extra innings 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night at Progressive Field.

After a rain delay pushed first pitch back by two hours, and 6 minutes, the Guardians and Twins played one of the strangest games of the season, with both teams combining for just four hits total. Unfortunately for Cleveland, Byron Buxton delivered two of them, and both ended up scoring runs.

Buxton opened the game with a solo home run off Tanner Bibee in the first inning, and then came through again in the 11th with the go-ahead RBI double that scored automatic runner Matt Wallner from third base.

Bibee was excellent once again for the Guardians. Outside of the Buxton homer, the right-hander allowed just one hit across six innings while striking out a season-high nine batters. He retired 10 straight at one point and continued to look more comfortable attacking hitters deep into counts.

Cleveland finally answered in the fourth inning. Jose Ramirez recorded the Guardians first hit of the night, stole second base, and came around to score on a Kyle Manzardo RBI single to tie the game at 1-1. The inning could have been much bigger, but Minnesota starter Joe Ryan escaped a bases-loaded jam by striking out Angel Martinez and Austin Hedges to keep the game tied.

Ryan matched Bibee pitch for pitch most of the night, giving up just one run on two hits over six innings while striking out five.

The game turned into a missed-opportunity marathon late. In the ninth inning, left-hander Kody Funderburk walked Daniel Schneemann and Travis Bazzana. Angel Martinez moved both runners up with a sacrifice bunt before Eric Orze intentionally walked David Fry to load the bases with one out. Cleveland looked ready to walk it off, but Brayan Rocchio grounded into a force play at the plate and Steven Kwan followed with a groundout to first, leaving the bases loaded.

The Guardians had another opportunity in the 10th after Peyton Pallette delivered a huge scoreless inning despite inheriting the automatic runner at second base. Cleveland loaded the bases yet again after Jose Ramirez was intentionally walked and Rhys Hoskins drew another free pass against Orze. It looked like Daniel Schneemann had won the game, but Twins shortstop Brooks Lee made a diving catch while playing on the infield grass to rob him of a hit for the second out. Travis Bazzana then lined out to left to end another painful missed chance.

Minnesota capitalised in the 11th when Buxton lined Pallette’s pitch into the gap to put Minnesota ahead.

Cleveland still threatened one final time in the bottom half. Bazzana started the inning at second, stole third after Luis Garcia retired Angel Martinez, but the Guardians could not bring him home. David Fry’s fly ball to left was too shallow to score the tying run, and Brayan Rocchio grounded out to shortstop on yet another strong defensive play from Brooks Lee to end the game.

The Guardians stranded 13 runners and finished just 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position in a game they had multiple opportunities to win late.

Cleveland will look to win the series in the rubber match on Sunday afternoon with Gavin Williams on the mound. First pitch is at 1:40pm ET.