MINNEAPOLIS (Interstat) — Emmanuel Rodriguez homered in his first major league at-bat, and the Minnesota Twins held off the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 on Saturday afternoon at Target Field. The game drew an announced attendance of 26,158 and lasted 2 hours, 39 minutes. Minnesota improved to 70-78. Cleveland fell to 75-74. The Twins evened the three-game series after Cleveland won the opener 5-2 on Friday. The game was played in the evening at Target Field in Minneapolis.

Rodriguez, Minnesota’s prospect, was called up from Triple-A St. Paul earlier in the day and made his debut batting ninth and playing center field. His wife and son attended, along with his parents and an aunt and uncle. He wasted little time making an impact. With one out in the bottom of the third, Rodriguez drove a 2-1 fastball from Cleveland right-hander Franco Aleman to center field for a 420-foot home run. The drive tied the game at 1-1 and made Rodriguez the first Twins player since Eddie Rosario in 2015 to homer in his first plate appearance. He also became the first Minnesota player since teammate Kaelen Culpepper on Aug. 7 to homer in his first major league game. Rodriguez finished 1 for 4 with one homer and one RBI.

The Twins did not stop after Rodriguez’s homer. Austin Martin popped out to first to begin the inning, but Rodriguez followed with his homer. Luke Keaschall singled on a line drive to left, Brooks Lee singled on a fly ball to left and Kody Clemens followed with a line-drive single to center that scored Keaschall. Josh Bell struck out swinging before Royce Lewis singled to center to bring home Lee. After Kaelen Culpepper was hit by a pitch, Victor Caratini was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in Clemens. Austin Martin then lined out sharply to center to end the inning. The four-run third turned a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 lead and provided the decisive margin. Minnesota finished with seven hits, while Cleveland had five.

Cleveland had taken the lead in the top of the second. Jo Adell singled on a ground ball to third, Angel Martínez singled on a sharp line drive to center and Travis Bazzana delivered a ground-ball single to center that scored Adell. Martínez was thrown out at third on the play, but the Guardians had a 1-0 advantage. David Fry lined out sharply to right and Austin Hedges flew out to right to end the inning. Cleveland pulled closer in the top of the fifth. David Fry was hit by a pitch, Austin Hedges doubled to left and Brayan Rocchio grounded out to second to score Fry. Steven Kwan then singled to center to score Hedges and cut Minnesota’s lead to 4-3. José Ramírez popped out to catcher Victor Caratini in foul territory to end the threat.

Connor Prielipp earned the win for Minnesota. He improved to 5-7 after allowing three earned runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out one. Aleman took the loss for Cleveland and fell to 0-1. A.J. Minter recorded the save, his first of the season, with a scoreless ninth inning. Minter struck out two and did not allow a hit. Cleveland pitchers combined for 12 strikes, 43 balls and 12 balls in play. Minnesota pitchers combined for 17 strikes, 37 balls and 17 balls in play.

Joey Cantillo had the most prominent relief line of the game for Cleveland, pitching four innings with one hit allowed, no earned runs and eight strikeouts. Minter followed with one inning, no hits, no earned runs and two strikeouts. Craig Yoho threw 1 1/3 innings with no hits, no earned runs and two strikeouts. Daniel Espino added two innings with one hit, no earned runs and two strikeouts. Prielipp worked 5 1/3 innings with five hits, three earned runs and one strikeout. Jeff Hoffman pitched one inning with no hits, no earned runs and three strikeouts. Rodriguez went 1 for 4 with one home run and one RBI. Kody Funderburk threw 2/3 of an inning with no hits, no earned runs and three strikeouts. Andrew Morris pitched one inning with no hits and no earned runs. Austin Hedges went 1 for 3 for Cleveland.

Cleveland had late chances but could not convert. In the seventh, Bazzana reached on a passed ball after a strikeout and Hedges walked, but Rocchio and Kwan struck out. In the eighth, José Ramírez was called out on strikes after a challenge confirmed the call, Chase DeLauter walked, and Jo Adell and Angel Martínez struck out. In the ninth, Nathaniel Lowe popped out to third in foul territory, Bazzana struck out on a foul tip and Hedges was called out on strikes. Minnesota’s bullpen retired the final 10 Cleveland batters after DeLauter’s walk, securing the one-run win.

Minnesota’s offense also had chances to add insurance but could not convert. In the bottom of the fifth, Josh Bell and Royce Lewis struck out, Ryan Kreidler doubled and Caratini struck out. In the sixth, Austin Martin was called out on strikes after a challenge overturned the call, Rodriguez lined out sharply to second and Keaschall struck out. In the seventh, Lee and Clemens struck out before Bell and Lewis walked, but Kreidler was called out on strikes. In the eighth, Caratini grounded out, Martin struck out and Rodriguez flew out sharply to center.

The Guardians had won the series opener and had been the pregame favorite. They fell despite a strong effort from Cantillo and a late rally that brought them within a run. Minnesota’s four-run third, capped by Caratini’s bases-loaded hit by pitch, proved enough. The teams are scheduled to meet again Sunday at Target Field in the series finale. After that, Cleveland will return home for a series against the Chicago White Sox, while Minnesota will host the New York Yankees.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Minnesota 5, Cleveland 4. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Cleveland with a 53.3 percent probability to win. Cleveland had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total score of 7 went over the over-under line of 8.5.