CLEVELAND — Royce Lewis hit a grand slam and had a career-high six RBIs, and Jorge Polanco and Carlos Correa each added solo homers as the American League Central-leading Minnesota Twins beat the Guardians 20-6 on Monday night.
Lewis, the rookie third baseman, tied the franchise record with his third grand slam of the season — all in the past eight games — and has four career grand slams in just 56 games in the majors.
That's the fewest games to reach four grand slams in MLB history, passing Rudy York (132 games, hit fourth in 1938). Of the four slams by Lewis, three have been against Cleveland.
"This team is amazing, and the situation just seems to find me because guys keep getting on base in front of me," Lewis said. "Scoring 20 runs is definitely fun, especially when you can beat your divisional rival in a pivotal series."
The win now puts Minnesota six games ahead of the second-place Guardians with 24 to play, including two more in this series at Progressive Field.
Kyle Farmer belted a three-run homer and Joey Gallo and Matt Wallner each had two-run shots off Cleveland catcher David Fry, who pitched the final four innings and allowed seven runs and 10 hits. Minnesota led 18-1 in the middle of the seventh.
The Twins roughed up Cleveland's Lucas Giolito, who was making his debut with the team. In all, Minnesota finished with 20 hits, had 12 players score and established season highs in runs, hits and margin of victory.
Giolito (7-12), was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 31 and gave up nine runs in three innings — tying his career-high. The right-hander is 1-7 with a 7.22 ERA in his past 11 starts, which include outings with the Chicago White Sox, Angels and Guardians.
Minnesota starter Pablo Lopez (10-7) went six innings and allowed just one run on an RBI triple by Jose Ramirez. The right-hander struck out three, putting him eight behind the Toronto Blue Jays' Kevin Gausman (207 K's) for the AL lead.
Lewis went 3-for-4, Polanco was 3-for-3 with three runs and Edouard Julien also scored three runs. Willi Castro played center field and third base before pitching the ninth for the Twins and surrendering three runs.
Fortunately for Cleveland, the loss wasn't their most lopsided. The most the franchise has lost by was 21 runs — 23-2 at Minnesota on June 4, 2002, and 21-0 at the Detroit Tigers on Sept. 15, 1901.
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