Willi Castro's Homer Powers Twins to 4-1 Win Over Guardians
Castro's Blast Breaks 1-1 Tie
Willi Castro's two-run homer in the eighth inning lifted the Minnesota Twins to a 4-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday, moving the Twins closer to clinching the AL Central division title.
With the game tied 1-1, Castro connected on a 1-0 curveball from reliever Sam Hentges, sending it over the left-field wall for his 10th homer of the season. The homer gave the Twins their first lead of the game and proved to be the game-winning hit.
Buxton, Ober Combine for Strong Outing
Byron Buxton also contributed to the Twins' victory, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Starter Bailey Ober pitched 5.2 solid innings, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out five. The bullpen, led by Jorge Lopez, combined to allow just one hit over the final 3.1 innings to secure the win.
Guardians' Offense Silenced
The Guardians, meanwhile, struggled to generate offense against Ober and the Twins' bullpen. Jose Ramirez's solo homer in the third inning accounted for Cleveland's only run, while the team managed just four hits overall. Starter Cal Quantrill pitched well for the Guardians, allowing just two runs on four hits over six innings, but the bullpen was unable to hold the lead.
Twins on Verge of Division Title
With the win, the Twins moved to 83-69 on the season and increased their lead in the AL Central to two games over the second-place Guardians. The Twins need just one more win or one Guardians loss to clinch the division title, which would be their first since 2010.
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