Minnesota Twins defeat Cleveland Guardians 3-1 in Minneapolis

On July 7, 2026 the Minnesota Twins beat the Cleveland Guardians 3–1 at Target Field. Starting pitcher Taj Bradley allowed one run and struck out 10 over seven innings, while the bullpen closed the game with Yoendrys Gómez recording his 10th save of the season. Kody Clemens contributed two hits and an RBI, and the Twins added runs with an Austin Martin sacrifice fly and a Brooks Lee go‑ahead single. Rhys Hoskins hit a solo homer for Cleveland, their only run.

The win gave Minnesota its third straight victory and moved the Twins to a 45–47 record, third in the AL Central. The Guardians, now 47–45 and second in the division, dropped their third consecutive game. The Twins were without All‑Star outfielder Byron Buxton, who was placed on the 10‑day injured list with a hip issue. A prior game in the series saw the Guardians win 5–2 in Minneapolis, with Gavin Williams matching a season‑high 11 strikeouts.

Later in the series, on July 9, the Twins secured a 6–5 walk‑off win thanks to Alan Roden’s ninth‑inning hit, extending their winning streak and further tightening the AL Central race.