It was a night to remember at the corner, as the Guardians kicked off the game with fireworks that had fans on their feet from the very first inning.
The action started fast. After Steven Kwan singled and Angel Martinez reached on a hit-by-pitch, Kwan came home on a slow roller to second by José Ramírez to put Cleveland up 1-0. Martinez then scored on a sacrifice fly to right, making it 2-0. But the real highlight came when Travis Bazzana stepped to the plate with two outs. The Australian sensation launched the first home run of his big league career—a towering 427-foot blast to right-center field—and just like that, the Guardians led 4-0. It was the kind of moment that makes you want to grab a jersey and celebrate.
After that explosive start, the game settled into a classic pitchers' duel. Parker Messick was dealing, allowing just two hits through the first five innings while keeping the Twins off the board. But baseball is a game of momentum shifts. After Messick struck out Byron Buxton, a bloop double brought in Minnesota's first run. The Twins tried to add another, but Petey Halpin gunned down Ryan Jeffers at the plate to keep the lead intact. Messick's night ended soon after, and reliever Matt Festa slammed the door by striking out Victor Caratini with the bases loaded.
The Twins refused to go quietly. Buxton crushed a two-run homer in the top of the seventh, cutting Cleveland's lead to 4-3. But the Guardians answered right back. Kwan led off the bottom half with a double, moved to third on a Martinez swinging bunt, and then José Ramírez delivered a clutch opposite-field line drive that snuck between the shortstop and third baseman, driving in a crucial insurance run. That's the kind of timely hitting that wins ballgames.
In the eighth, Bazzana showed he's more than just a power hitter. After hustling down the line to beat out a potential double play, the rookie stole second, then swiped third as part of a double steal with Brayan Rocchio. He eventually scored on an Austin Hedges infield single to push the lead to 6-3.
Cade Smith came on for his third consecutive day, looking to close it out. The Twins threatened, but the Guardians' bullpen held firm. It was a night of firsts, clutch plays, and the kind of energy that makes baseball in April so special. For Bazzana, it was a breakout moment—one that Guardians fans will be talking about for a long time.