Joe Ryan delivered another strong performance on the mound Friday night, but a single swing of the bat proved decisive as the Minnesota Twins fell 2-1 to the Cincinnati Reds at Target Field.

Ryan was sharp, logging his second straight quality start with six innings of work. He surrendered just three hits, though a costly fourth-inning sequence did him in. After a one-out double from the electric Elly De La Cruz, a throwing error by Ryan Kreidler put two men on for Eugenio Suárez. The veteran third baseman then connected on a sweeper, driving it to left-center for a two-run double that provided all the offense Cincinnati would need.

The game was a classic pitcher's duel, with both staffs keeping hitters off balance. The Twins' best chance to rally came in the fifth inning when they loaded the bases against Reds starter Brandon Williamson, a native of southern Minnesota. They managed to push one run across on an Austin Martin sacrifice fly, but a subsequent inning-ending double play snuffed out the threat.

Suárez was the difference-maker on both sides of the ball, adding a stellar sliding grab and throw in the seventh to strand a pair of Twins runners. The Twins will look to even the series Saturday afternoon, sending the red-hot Taj Bradley (3-0, 1.25 ERA) to the hill against Cincinnati's Andrew Abbott.