Series Review: Cleveland Guardians romp Minnesota Twins behind Amed Rosario’s coming out party

The Cleveland Guardians have taken the five-game series from the Minnesota Twins.

When you put up 11 RBIs in three games, that’s a pretty big deal. When you put up 8 RBIs, in three games, as Francisco Lindor’d replacement? That’s an even bigger deal. Lindor is on his way to a solid season and considering he’s getting paid $34 million he better be having a solid season. For Rosario, his series is a sign that the team should consider him a long-term piece of the team.

After all, not just anyone can put up 11 RBIs in three games. Rosario has an outside chance at a Gold Glove, not to mention his likability among his teammates. He may not have been the vocal point of the Lindor trade, but he’s quickly becoming an indispensable part of the team. He’s a great two-hitter, and helps Steven Kwan get the at-bats he deserves by being a threat himself.

Hopefully, a long-term extension can be had for Rosario.

The Guardians, however, made the series all about pitching. Proving that they can in fact out-pitch anyone and everyone. The offense did show up, yes, but the pitching was what shut the Twins down hard and gave the Guardians the big series win.

The Guards held a 3.5-game lead before the start of Monday’s contest. A win sees the lead go to 4.0 games, due to the Chicago White Sox being off, and a loss would have seen the Guardians fall to just a 3.0-game lead over the Chi-Sox.

The Guardians have just three more games against the White Sox, and a series win essentially puts the playoffs out of reach, barring a collapse down the stretch.

Cleveland Guardians vs. Minnesota Twins series review

Game 1- Guardians Win (4-3)

Triston McKenzie carried the water for the Guardians, while Amed Rosario knocked in two, and Myles Straw added a third RBI on the way to a Guardians 4-3 win.

Game 2- Guardians Win (5-1)

After McKenzie did his work, Shane Bieber showed why he may very well be in the talk for the AL Cy Young race. Rosario again knocks in two, with another two from Owen Miller and one more from Jose Ramirez.

Game 3 – Guardians Win  (7-6)

Game 2 was part of a day/night doubleheader with Game 3 capping off a long day of baseball. 15 innings this one went, with nine pitchers being used. Konnor Pilkington had his best outing as a major leaguer, while Rosario drove in four RBIs to help seal the deal. Shockingly enough, a game-ending error gave the Guards the win and the series victory.

Game 4 – Twins Win (3-0)

The Guards were drained after the 15-inning affair and the Twins held the Guards to just three hits on Sunday.

Game 5 – Guardians Win (11-4)

Josh Naylor and Amed Rosario both had 3 RBI games to help put the Twins out of reach of the playoffs unless they get some very unexpected help down the stretch.

Series Standouts

Steven Kwan

7-19, 1 RBI, 3 Runs, 2 Walks

Amed Rosario

11-25, 2 HR, 11 RBi, 4 Runs, 1 Walk

Triston McKenzie

7.0 IP, 8 Ks

Shane Bieber

8.0 IP, 6 Ks

Eli Morgan

3.0 IP, 2ks

Kirk McCarty

3.0 IP, 3ks

Emmanuel Clase

2.0 IP, 1 K, 1 Save