Kwan, Bazzana help Guardians beat Twins 9-2, pull within 1/2 game of AL Central-leading White Sox

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Steven Kwan homered to lead off the game, Tanner Bibee had seven strikeouts in 6 2/3 strong innings, and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Minnesota Twins 9-2 on Sunday to pull within a half-game of the American League Central-leading Chicago White Sox.

The Indians are one game ahead of Toronto, and have a 5 1/2-game lead over Minnesota, in the race for the final AL wild-card spot. Cleveland hosts the White Sox for a three-game series beginning Monday.

Travis Bazzana drove in three runs for Cleveland, including a two-run homer in the sixth inning.

Bibee (6-15) gave up just two runs on four hits. The 27-year-old right-hander had allowed 10 runs over 8 1/3 innings in his previous two September starts.

Minnesota All-Star Joe Ryan’s tough second-half continued.

Making his second start since coming off the injured list, Ryan (6-10) surrendered four runs on seven hits in four innings. He is 0-5 with an 8.48 ERA in five starts since the All-Star Game. He had given up eight runs on a franchise-record six homers allowed in a start against the Guardians on July 20.

Kwan sent the second pitch of the game from Ryan into the row of flowers in the overhang in right field at Target Field for just his third homer of the season. He finished a triple shy of the cycle.

Jo Adell added a solo home run in the third.

Kody Clemens doubled home Luke Keaschall in the third, and Trevor Larnach hit a solo homer in the seventh for the Twins.

Guardians: RHP Gavin Williams (13-7, 3.78 ERA) starts Monday for Cleveland opposite White Sox RHP Sean Burke (8-7, 3.58).

Twins: RHP Dean Kremer (3-5, 5.65) starts Monday against New York Yankees RHP Will Warren (10-6, 4.05) to open a three-game series at Target Field.

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Minnesota Twins second baseman Kody Clemens fields a single hit by Cleveland Guardians' Steven Kwan during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Joseph Scheller)

Minnesota Twins' Royce Lewis hits a flyout during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Joseph Scheller)

Fans and members of the military stand for the playing of the national anthem as planes perform a flyover prior to a baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Joseph Scheller)

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee delivers during the second inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Joseph Scheller)

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Joseph Scheller)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco's Rafael Devers' season is over and he may have surgery for a core muscle injury.

The Giants placed the first baseman/designated hitter and designated hitter on the 60-day injured list Sunday, ending his season.

Devers, who leads the team with 37 homers and 98 RBIs, is to meet Monday in Philadelphia with Dr. William Meyers. If a procedure is recommended, Devers would have the operation on Tuesday.

San Francisco said Devers played with the injury for much of this season.

Devers homered in his last two games and had eight home runs with 20 RBIs in his final 11 games.

In the third season of a $313.5 million, 10-year contract, Devers was acquired from Boston in June 2025. He was batting .207 with two homers through April but has raised his average to .258.

Devers has a .274 average and 272 home runs in 10 major league seasons.

San Francisco selected the contract of outfielder Scott Bandura from Triple-A Sacramento.

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San Francisco Giants' Rafael Devers gestures after hitting a grand slam during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres in San Francisco, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

San Francisco Giants' Rafael Devers (16), is congratulated by Bryce Eldridge, right, after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres in San Francisco, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

San Francisco Giants' Rafael Devers (16) watches his two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres in San Francisco, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)