Bo Naylor hits 3-run homer, closer Emmanuel Clase gets save in Guardians' 4-2 win over Twins

CLEVELAND (AP) — Bo Naylor hit a three-run homer and Luis Ortiz kept Minnesota's hitters off balance and off the scoreboard for 6 1/3 innings, leading the Cleveland Guardians to a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.

Naylor connected in the seventh inning off reliever Brock Stewart after the Guardians finally scratched out a run against Minnesota starter Pablo López (2-2), who held Cleveland scoreless over the first 6 1/3 innings.

Cade Smith (1-0) struck out the only two batters he faced. Emmanuel Clase pitched the ninth — he gave up one run and two hits with a wild pitch — for his fifth save. It was the struggling All-Star closer's first save since April 19.

Brooks Lee homered for the Twins.

Ortiz and López matched zeros over the first six innings before the Guardians got something going in the seventh with José Ramírez starting the rally with a single and stolen base. With one out, Carlos Santana's topper was fielded cleanly by López, but he threw wildly to first allowing Ramírez to score.

Stewart walked Gabriel Arias and struck out Daniel Schneemann before Naylor touched him for his fourth homer and second in two nights.

After giving up a two-out double in the first inning, López retired 14 straight hitters before Angel Martínez doubled in the sixth.

Minnesota rookie left fielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. kept the game scoreless in the seventh with a sensational diving catch to rob Cleveland's Kyle Manzardo of extra bases.

With his next steal, Ramírez will become the first third baseman in history with 250 career homers and 250 steals. The six-time All-Star will also be the 24th major leaguer to accomplish the feat and just the second switch-hitter, joining Carlos Beltrán (435 homers, 312 steals).

RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (2-2, 4.07 ERA) is scheduled to start the series finale THursday against Guardians RHP Ben Lively (1-2, 4.40).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez tosses his bat as he watches his single in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Minnesota Twins' Carlos Correa lies on the ground after falling over while backing away from a pitch in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Bo Naylor breaks his bat as he grounds out in the third inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton (25) catches a fly ball hit for an out by Cleveland Guardians' Daniel Schneemann in the second inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez gestures from second base after hitting a double in the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Luis Ortiz pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Minnesota Twins' Pablo Lopez pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez (11) steals second base in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Bo Naylor, left, celebrates his home run with teammate Carlos Santana, right, in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Bo Naylor watches his home run in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked a shot by LeBron James and stole the ball from him on consecutive possessions in the final minute, and the Milwaukee Bucks blew a fourth-quarter lead before rallying for a 105-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

Kevin Porter Jr. scored 22 points, and he hit two free throws to break a tie after Antetokounmpo blocked a driving layup attempt by James with 39 seconds left.

Antetokounmpo then knocked the ball out of James' hands from behind with 2 seconds left, and Porter hit two more free throws to seal Milwaukee's fifth win in seven games — its first over a team with a winning record since Dec. 11. Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points in his lowest-scoring effort since returning from his right calf strain.

Luka Doncic had 24 points and nine assists on 8-of-25 shooting for the Lakers. He had his lowest-scoring performance since Christmas, and he fouled out on Porter's 3-point attempt with 16.2 seconds to play.

James had 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, but Antetokoumpo got the best of the top scorer in NBA history at crunch time. Los Angeles has lost six of 10.

Milwaukee surged to a double-digit lead in the first half even with Antetokounmpo on a minutes restriction in his injury return. Doncic scored 12 points in the third quarter but also committed four fouls in the period, including his fifth of the game.

Los Angeles abruptly erased its deficit by going on a 17-4 run to open the fourth, with James putting the Lakers ahead when he stole the ball from Antetokounmpo for a layup with 6:02 left. Milwaukee missed nine of its first 12 shots in the period, but Porter's layup tied it with two minutes left.

Lakers starters Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura remain sidelined by injury, but Hachimura (calf) might return early next week from his six-game absence, coach JJ Redick said.

Bucks: At Denver on Sunday.

Lakers: At Sacramento on Monday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart, left, tries to shoot as Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, and Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)