Bailey Ober led a shutout and Max Kepler continues to mash in Cleveland as the Twins started the series against their AL Central rivals with a 2-0 win Friday night.
The Guardians’ Peyton Battenfield kept the Twins off the base paths through the first five and two thirds before Christian Vazquez singled out to left field. Kepler launched his fourth home run of the season just six pitches later to break open the scoring.
Twins pitchers were equally lights out, allowing just three hits in the Friday night shutout. Bailey Ober struck out six in his seven innings of work, while Jorge Lopez came out of the bullpen for a one-two-three eighth inning.
Jhoan Duran walked Steven Kwan to open up the bottom of the ninth but then was able to work through Amed Rosario, Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor for his seventh save of the season.
Perfect. pic.twitter.com/ZhnGgYmgop
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) May 6, 2023
Kepler’s sixth inning home run was his 15th at Progressive Field and the Twins’ 17th consecutive game with a home run, a new franchise record.
Sonny Gray and Logan Allen are set for starting pitching duties for the Twins and Guardians in game two of the three game weekend series with first pitch set for 5:10pm.
