CLEVELAND (Interstat) — The Cleveland Guardians used a pair of two-run innings to defeat the Minnesota Twins 5-2 on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at Progressive Field in front of an announced crowd of 19,714 in a game that took 2 hours and 40 minutes.

The Guardians improved to 54-48, while the Twins fell to 49-53. Colin Holderman (5-2) earned the win with a third of an inning of scoreless relief, and Cade Smith recorded his 29th save of the season with a perfect ninth. Mike Paredes (0-3) took the loss after allowing four runs over 5 2/3 innings.

Minnesota struck first in the top of the first inning when Ryan Jeffers hit his ninth home run of the season, a solo shot to left field off Guardians starter Parker Messick. Jeffers’ blast gave the Twins a 1-0 lead, and they extended it in the fourth. Josh Bell led off the inning with a double, advanced to third on a fielding error by Messick and then scored on a second error, this one by second baseman Travis Bazzana, to make it 2-0.

Cleveland answered in the bottom of the third. Austin Hedges walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Petey Halpin and scored on a double by Steven Kwan. Brayan Rocchio followed with an RBI single to tie the game 2-2.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the sixth, when the Guardians broke through against Paredes. Kahlil Watson doubled, and Bazzana was hit by a pitch. Gabriel Arias singled to load the bases. Hedges then delivered a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Watson and giving Cleveland a 3-2 lead. After a replay review, Halpin was ruled safe on a second sacrifice fly, this one to center, scoring Bazzana and pushing the lead to 4-2.

Cleveland added an insurance run in the seventh. Chase DeLauter singled, moved to second on a groundout and scored on a single by Bazzana, making it 5-2.

The Twins threatened in the top of the seventh, putting two runners on with one out, but Guardians reliever Hunter Gaddis struck out Ryan Kreidler and got Byron Buxton to fly out to end the inning. Smith worked a 1-2-3 ninth.

Messick pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out six. Gaddis added 1 1/3 hitless innings with one strikeout. For the Twins, Jeffers finished 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Bell went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

Cleveland’s offense was balanced. DeLauter went 2-for-4 with a run. Rocchio had two hits and an RBI. Arias also had two hits. Bazzana drove in a run and scored one. Hedges and Halpin each had a sacrifice fly. The Guardians totaled nine hits, while the Twins managed six.

The game was the second of a three-game series, with Cleveland winning the opener 13-4 on Monday. The teams will conclude the series Wednesday before the Twins host and the Guardians visit Tampa Bay.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Minnesota 6, Cleveland 5, but the Guardians outperformed expectations. Interstat’s ELO system gave Cleveland a 59.10 percent probability to win, and the Guardians were installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The combined seven runs went over the over/under line of eight.