MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Royce Lewis hit a grand slam for his first big league homer, capping a nine-run fifth inning that sent the Minnesota Twins past the coronavirus-struck Cleveland Guardians 12-8 Friday night.
Byron Buxton, Jorge Polanco and Gary Sánchez also homered for Minnesota. The barrage came after Minnesota was shut out in two of its three games against Houston.
“It came down to the good at-bats that we crave. We had one after another,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “It was kind of a breakthrough where we actually created that really great separation that we’re always after.”
The Guardians returned after having a game Wednesday at the Chicago White Sox called off — that was the first COVID-19-related postponement in the majors this season.
Cleveland pitching coach Carl Willis ran the team in place of manager Terry Francona, who entered MLB’s health and safety protocols this week. First base coach Sandy Alomar, third base coach Mike Sarbaugh, bench coach DeMarlo Hale, assistant pitching coach Joe Torres and hitting analyst Justin Toole also are out.
Earlier Friday, Cleveland outfielder Josh Naylor was put on the COVID-19-related injured list.
“We just want to be accountable to each other and go out and pick each other up and play the game the right way,” Willis said. “I think they’re in a good frame of mind.”
Lewis, the Twins’ top prospect who debuted earlier this season, batted twice in the fifth. After doubling in his first trip to the plate in the inning, Lewis cleared the bases with a grand slam off reliever Bryan Shaw.
The 22-year-old shortstop received a curtain call from Twins fans, stepping out of the dugout to tip his cap after his memorable homer.
“I think it was pretty much everything I could’ve imagined and more,” Lewis said. “I really…
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