Roden's RBI single in the 9th inning lifts Twins past the Guardians 6-5

Minnesota Twins' Alan Roden, center left, celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off RBI single scoring Royce Lewis in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Minneapolis. Credit: AP/Joseph Scheller
MINNEAPOLIS — Alan Roden hit a game-winning RBI single in the ninth inning as the Minnesota Twins beat Cleveland 6-5 on Wednesday night for their fourth straight win over the Guardians.
The Twins have won four in a row and five of six overall.
Roden singled twice and drove in two runs. Kody Clemens went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI, and Brooks Lee singled twice and drove in a pair of runs.
Yoendrys Gómez (1-0) pitched a scoreless ninth for his first win this season.
Brayan Rocchio and Rhys Hoskins homered for the Guardians.
Chase DeLauter singled to lead off the fourth before Rocchio hit a 401-foot homer off Twins starter Connor Prielipp. Hoskins followed with a solo shot, his second straight game with a homer.
But, the Twins answered in the bottom half of the inning.

Minnesota Twins' Alan Roden (18) hits a walk-off RBI single scoring Royce Lewis in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Minneapolis. Credit: AP/Joseph Scheller
Lee, Clemens and Josh Bell singled to load the bases with no outs. Lee scored when Royce Lewis walked, Luke Keaschall followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Clemens, and Roden added an RBI single that made it 3-all.
Cleveland's Kahlil Watson walked on four pitches to leadoff the seventh and then stole second base before Steven Kwan walked. DeLauter singled, driving in Watson, and Kwan scored on a sacrifice bunt by Rocchio.
Keaschall and Ryan Kreidler walked before Erik Sabrowski replaced Shawn Armstrong with one out in the bottom half. Pinch-hitter Austin Martin walked on four pitches to load the bases before Lee drew another walk, scoring Keaschall. Clemens walked, scoring Kreidler, making it 5-all.
Prielipp allowed three runs and had six strikeouts in five innings.

Minnesota Twins' Luke Keaschall (15) hits a sacrifice fly to score Kody Clemens during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Minneapolis. Credit: AP/Joseph Scheller
Up next
Indians RHP Gavin Williams (9-4, 3.89 ERA) starts Thursday opposite Twins RHP Bailey Ober (6-3, 4.59), who returns after nearly six weeks on the injured list.
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