The Minnesota Twins defeated the Cleveland Guardians 6-5 on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Rookie Alan Roden delivered a walk-off single in the 10th inning.
Roden’s hit scored Nick Gordon. It clinched the series win at Target Field.
The Twins trailed 5-3 in the ninth. Byron Buxton left the game with a leg injury.
Connor Prielipp pitched five innings, allowing three runs. He struck out seven.
Roden, 25, was called up in June. He entered the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh.
“It’s a moment you dream about,” Roden said. “But the team needed it more.”
The win moved the Twins to 48-38. The Guardians fell to 50-36.
Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase blew his fourth save. He allowed two runs in the ninth.
Roden’s single came on a 1-2 slider. It scored Gordon from second base.
The series win was Minnesota’s first over Cleveland in 2026. The Guardians had taken the previous two series.
| Player | Stat | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Alan Roden | Hit | Walk-off single |
| Connor Prielipp | IP | 5.0 |
| Byron Buxton | Injury | Leg |
| Emmanuel Clase | Blown saves | 4 |
Minnesota’s bullpen held Cleveland scoreless for four innings. Jhoan Duran got the win.
Roden’s OPS now sits at .847. He has 14 RBIs in 22 games.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: Who hit the walk-off for the Minnesota Twins against the Cleveland Guardians?
- A: Rookie Alan Roden hit a walk-off single in the 10th inning to give the Twins a 6-5 victory.
- Q: What was the final score of the Twins vs. Guardians game on July 8, 2026?
- A: The Minnesota Twins defeated the Cleveland Guardians 6-5 in 10 innings.
- Q: How did the Twins come back to win the game?
- A: The Twins trailed 5-3 in the ninth inning but rallied, capitalizing on a blown save by Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase, before Roden’s walk-off single in the 10th.
- Q: What injury occurred during the game for the Twins?
- A: Byron Buxton left the game with a leg injury.
- Q: How did Alan Roden perform in the game and season?
- A: Roden, called up in June, delivered the walk-off single on a 1-2 slider. His OPS sits at .847 with 14 RBIs in 22 games.
Extended Reading
The Athletic reported Roden’s performance “validates the Twins’ patient development strategy.” The Star Tribune noted the win “broke Cleveland’s heart” in a divisional race tightening by the day.