Kyle Manzardo's Walk-Off Sinks Twins in Guardians' 3-2 Win

Friday, August 1st, 2025

Guardians Walk-Off Twins 3-2 in Thrilling August 1st Matchup

CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Guardians secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday, August 1, 2025, thanks to Kyle Manzardo's second walk-off hit of the season. Manzardo singled home Brayan Rocchio with one out in the 10th inning, clinching the win at Progressive Field.

Tenth Inning Decider

The decisive 10th inning saw the Guardians load the bases against Twins reliever Kody Funderburk. Steven Kwan led off with a single, and José Ramírez was intentionally walked, setting the stage for Manzardo. The Guardians' designated hitter delivered a sharp liner to left field, bringing home automatic runner Brayan Rocchio and igniting celebrations.

Cade Smith earned the win for Cleveland, improving his record to 3-4 after pitching two scoreless innings in relief. The victory pushed the Guardians' record to 9-5 since the All-Star break.

Early Leads and Milestone Moments

Cleveland initially took a 2-0 lead. In the first inning, José Ramírez drove in Steven Kwan with a single, then stole second base. This steal marked a significant career milestone for Ramírez, making him the 17th player in MLB history to achieve 275 steals and 275 home runs. He is notably the first primary third baseman and second switch-hitter, joining Carlos Beltrán, to reach this exclusive club.

Brayan Rocchio extended the lead in the second inning, bringing home Carlos Santana against Twins starter Joe Ryan, who worked six innings. Guardians starter Gavin Williams was stellar, striking out eight batters over six scoreless frames.

Twins Rally on Error

Minnesota tied the game at 2-all in the seventh inning due to a critical error. A throwing miscue by Twins pitcher Hunter Gaddis allowed Brooks Lee and Christian Vázquez to score unearned runs. The play unfolded when Gaddis inexplicably threw toward first on a Martin infield hit, firing a bouncer past first baseman Carlos Santana into right field, allowing both runners to cross the plate. Erik Sabrowski was charged with both unearned runs.

Roster Shuffle for the Twins

The Twins entered the game following a flurry of roster moves. Prior to the game, they promoted four pitchers and four position players from Triple-A St. Paul. These moves came after the Twins made nine trades in the 24 hours preceding Thursday's trade deadline, significantly reshaping their roster. The Twins had 25 players in uniform, one less than the roster limit, reflecting the extensive transactions.

Up Next

The series continues on Saturday, August 2nd. The Guardians are expected to send right-hander Tanner Bibee (7-9, 4.39 ERA) to the mound, who enters the game with three consecutive wins. The Twins manager Rocco Baldelli has not yet announced a starting pitcher for the game.

In summary

The Cleveland Guardians defeated the Minnesota Twins 3-2 in extra innings on August 1, 2025, at Progressive Field. Kyle Manzardo hit a walk-off single in the 10th inning, bringing home Brayan Rocchio. Cade Smith earned the win for Cleveland, while Gavin Williams pitched six scoreless innings. José Ramírez reached a career milestone with his 275th steal, joining the 275-homer/275-steal club. The Twins tied the game in the seventh inning on a throwing error by Hunter Gaddis. Minnesota also navigated significant roster changes, promoting several players after a busy trade deadline. The series continues on Saturday with Tanner Bibee pitching for the Guardians.

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