Guardians’ Offensive Surge Caps Twin Series with 7-Homer Game and Small-Ball Win

On the night before July 22, Cleveland matched a franchise record by hitting seven home runs in a 13–4 victory over Minnesota. Rookie Petey Halpin and veteran Rhys Hoskins each belted two, while Brayan Rocchio, Travis Bazzana and Patrick Bailey added solo shots. The Guardians recorded a season-high 19 hits and scored at least 13 runs for only the second time this season. Minnesota starter Joe Ryan surrendered six homers, tying a major-league record for most allowed in a game and setting a franchise high for homers given up.

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A day later, Cleveland relied on “small ball” to defeat the Twins 5–2. Austin Hedges and Halpin produced back-to-back sacrifice flies in the sixth inning, giving the Guardians a 4–2 lead. Parker Messick worked 5 2/3 innings, striking out six, issuing no walks and allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits. Colin Holderman closed the game, and closer Cade Smith recorded his 29th save—the most in the majors at that time. (Reuters; ESPN)

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The Guardians entered the series near the bottom of the league in power hitting, tied with Tampa Bay for the third-fewest home runs. Their seven-homer outburst matched the club’s record for a home game, previously achieved on April 30, 2013, and moved Cleveland within a half-game of the first-place Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.

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• Home runs: 7 (Halpin 2, Hoskins 2, Rocchio, Bazzana, Bailey) – franchise-tying for a home game.

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• Runs / Hits: 13 runs, 19 hits (13-4 win); 5 runs, 9 hits (5-2 win).

MLB Roundup: Hedges and Halpin hit sac flies to help Guardians beat Twins

• Pitching: Messick – 5 2/3 IP, 6 K, 0 BB, 2 R (1 ER); Smith – 29th save, league-leading.

MLB Roundup: Hedges and Halpin hit sac flies to help Guardians beat Twins

• Season series: Guardians are 43-23 against the Twins since 2022.

Reuters

• Twin setbacks: Minnesota’s fourth straight road loss; now 3 ½ games out of the final AL wild-card spot.

Reuters

Twins first-baseman Ryan Jeffers extended his on-base streak to 15 games with a solo homer in the July 22 game.

Reuters

• “We've been talking a lot about how both good and bad things are so contagious in this game and we feed off that as a team,” — Rhys Hoskins

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• “I think that my role and what I try to do is get on base for the guys that do hit home runs.” — Petey Halpin

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The Guardians will send right-hander Slade Cecconi (4-6, 4.55 ERA) to the mound on Wednesday, while Minnesota will start left-hander Kendry Rojas (1-1, 2.79 ERA). Cleveland remains a half-game behind the White Sox for the AL Central lead.

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