MINNEAPOLIS – Travis Bazzana knew if he kept getting on base, eventually someone would drive him in. And it happened just in time for the Guardians.
Bazzana had two singles, walked twice and scored the go-ahead run in the ninth on a wild pitch as the Guardians rallied to defeat the Twins, 5-2, on Friday at Target Field.
With Toronto’s 7-4 loss to Baltimore earlier in the day, the Guardians stretched their lead to two games over the Blue Jays in the race for the third AL Wild Card spot.
Bazzana got on base to start an inning in each of his four plate appearances. He finally came around to score on an Angel Martínez homer in the seventh that put the Guardians on top 2-1.
The Twins tied it, but Bazzana led off the ninth with a walk against Twins closer Yóendryz Gomez. He moved to third on a Martínez double and scored when a pitch in the dirt got away from catcher Ryan Jeffers. Brayan Rocchio doubled home two runs to provide the final margin.
The Guardians weren’t limited by a lack of chances early. They got their leadoff man on base in each of the first four innings against Twins starter Taj Bradley, who walked Steven Kwan in the first. Bazzana in the second and Rocchio in the third b...