Buxton and Urshela homer to help Twins beat Guardians 3-1

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Joe Ryan allowed one run over six innings and was backed by solo homers from Byron Buxton and Gio Urshela as the Minnesota Twins beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 on Sunday.

Ryan (4-2) threw a career-high 103 pitches and struck out five, with his only blemish a fourth inning changeup that José Ramírez hit over the right field fence for his eighth home run of the season.

“We really needed a good start from Joe Ryan and he gave us exactly what we were looking for,” Twins Manager Rocco Baldelli said.

After walking a career-high five batters in his last start, Ryan did not issue a walk to Cleveland.

Buxton, who sat out Saturday's 3-2 to the Guardians, hit his 11th home run of the season in the fifth inning. Despite missing 12 games this season, his 11 home runs are second-most in the majors, trailing only Aaron Judge. Urshela’s fourth-inning home run was his second home run in as many games.

"See ball, hit ball. Keep it simple," Buxton said of his approach. “Just go out there and try to have a quality at bat and everything else takes care of itself.”

Minnesota leads the American League Central by three games over Cleveland and Chicago.

Guardians starter Triston McKenzie (2-3) allowed three runs on three hits and two walks. He struck out four in seven innings.

“I thought Triston was really good today,” Cleveland acting manager Carl Willis said. “Unfortunate, two balls, two pitches he'd like to have back ... I thought his stuff was really really good.”

The Twins struck first, manufacturing a run in the opening frame. Luis Arraez walked and then stole second base before Max Kepler hit a two-out single to right field to bring him home. The Guardians tied the game in the fourth inning with Ramírez’s home run....

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Buxton-and-Urshela-homer-to-help-Twins-beat-17174652.php