CLEVELAND (AP) — Max Kepler hit a two-run homer and Bailey Ober pitched seven innings in a combined three-hitter, sending the Minnesota Twins to a 2-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Friday night.
Ober (2-0) gave up three hits and a walk while striking out six, lowering his season ERA to 0.98 over three starts. Jorge López worked a clean eighth and Jhoan Duran pitched the ninth for his seventh save.
Guardians starter Peyton Battenfield (0-3) did not allow a baserunner until Christian Vázquez singled with two outs in the sixth. Kepler followed with a 440-foot blast to right field, driving in the only runs of the ballgame.
The Twins have homered in a franchise-record 17 consecutive games. Kepler has 15 home runs at Progressive Field since 2016, the most by a visiting player.
Battenfield worked a season-high seven innings, giving up two hits, in his fifth big-league appearance. The right-hander struck out seven without issuing a walk, only permitting two hard-hit balls to Vázquez and Kepler.
Cleveland’s best scoring opportunity came in the seventh when Oscar Gonzalez reached on an infield single with two outs, but José Ramírez was thrown out at the plate trying to advance. The Guardians have been blanked four times.
Byron Buxton of the Twins went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts, ending his eight-game hitting streak. He also had reached base multiple times in a career-high six straight.
Minnesota leads the AL Central by 4 1/2 games over the Guardians. The teams will meet 12 more times this season.
The game featured six total hits and was played in 2 hours and 11 minutes.
DOWN ON THE FARM
Guardians RHP Zach Plesac was optioned to Triple-A Columbus, but manager Terry Francona said the four-year veteran is not out of their long-term plans. Plesac went 1-1 with a 7.59 ERA in five starts, allowing opponents to hit .374.
“Whether it’s the stress or the emotion of the game, there has been less command this season with Zach,” Francona said.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Twins: LHP Caleb Thielbar (right oblique strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list and RHP Tyler Mahle (right flexor strain) was shifted to the 60-day IL. Mahle will undergo an additional medical exam next week.
Guardians: LHP Sam Hentges (left shoulder inflammation) was activated from the 15-day IL. Valuable reliever Hentges posted a 1.93 ERA over five rehab appearances with Triple-A Columbus and Double-A Akron.
UP NEXT
Twins RHP Sonny Gray (4-0, 0.77 ERA) takes on Guardians LHP Logan Allen (1-1, 2.45 ERA) in the second game of the three-game series. Gray tied the franchise record for the lowest ERA in March/April, allowing three runs in 35 innings.