Guardians spot Twins 4 runs, fall 5-4 in homestand finale

CLEVELAND — Trevor Larnach had a two-run single in a four-run first inning and the Minnesota Twins beat the Cleveland Guardians 5-4 on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep.Matt Wallner and Royce Lewis also drove in runs in the first against Joey Cantillo (2-2), who struck out a season-high nine over 5 2/3 innings. Kody Clemens' bunt single in the eighth plated DaShawn Keirsey Jr. with an insurance run.The Guardians trailed 5-2 going into the ninth, but Brayan Rocchio's pinch-hit single off Michael Tonkin scored Nolan Jones and C.J. Kayfus. Erasmo Ramirez entered and retired Daniel Schneemann and Jose Ramirez in order to close out the win. Ramirez is 9 for 20 with five home runs and 12 RBI in his last five games.Minnesota snapped a four-game losing streak. Kody Funderburk (2-1) tossed two scoreless innings of relief, and Ramirez earned the save in his first big-league appearance since Aug. 30, 2024, with Tampa Bay.Jose Ramirez hit a two-run homer in the first and Schneemann had three hits for the second day in a row for Cleveland, which had won four straight. Kayfus doubled for his first hit in the majors, one day after being recalled from Triple-A Columbus.Jose Urena, pitching for his sixth team in three years, started and gave up two runs in four innings for the Twins. Wallner and Clemens had two hits apiece. Bo Naylor had a RBI double in the eighth inning of Saturday's 5-4 win. Jose Ramirez and Schneeman each homered. Ramirez has four home runs in his last four promotional giveaway games. The first 20,000 fans at Progressive Field on Saturday received Ramirez replica jerseys. Key momentCantillo gave up four straight hits to Austin Martin, Ryan Jeffers, Wallner and Lewis to begin the game. The left-hander had only given up three total hits in the first inning of his other five starts this season.Key statUrena became the first player this season to appear in games with four teams, previously pitching for the Mets, Blue Jays and Dodgers. Roster movesThe Guardians added right-hander Carlos Hernandez to the roster and selected the contract of first baseman/outfielder C.J. Kayfus from Triple-A Columbus before Saturday's game against the Twins. To make room for Hernandez and Kayfus, left-hander Tim Herrin and outfielder Johnathan Rodríguez were optioned to Columbus. Kayfus — a third-round pick in by the Guardians in the 2023 MLB Draft — made his major-league debut Saturday, batting eighth and playing right field. He drove in a run in Cleveland's 5-4 win. The 23-year old Kayfus started the season in Double-A Akron before being promoted to Columbus, where he batted .283 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI. Hernandez was claimed on waivers from Detroit on Thursday. He has split time this season between Philadelphia and Detroit. In 36 appearances, he is 1-0 with a 6.69 ERA. Up nextGuardians' RHP Slade Cecconi (5-7, 3.77 ERA) opens a three-game series Monday at the New York Mets.