Messick’s 9 Ks, Naylor’s 4 RBIs Lift Guardians Over Twins

The Cleveland Guardians kept their late-season surge alive Friday night, stretching their winning streak to eight with a 6-2 win over the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Rookie lefty Parker Messick put together his best start yet, while catcher Bo Naylor kept his bat hot and drove in four runs.

Cleveland’s playoff hopes are hanging on, and the AL Central and Wild Card races feel tighter by the day. They’re catching fire at just the right moment, and the vibe around the team is electric.

Guardians Keep Rolling With Eighth Consecutive Win

This win bumps the Guardians to an 82-71 record and keeps them right in the thick of the postseason chase. They’re now 2 ½ games behind the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers and only 1 ½ games out of the last American League Wild Card spot.

The streak’s been all about solid pitching and clutch hitting—hallmarks of Cleveland’s recent turnaround. It’s the kind of baseball that’s fun to watch, honestly.

Parker Messick Shines on the Mound

Messick, still new to the big leagues, came in looking to build on his recent momentum. He struck out nine batters over 5 1/3 innings and allowed just two earned runs.

Seven of those strikeouts came on offspeed stuff, which really kept the Twins guessing. His mix of curveballs, sliders, and changeups seemed to keep hitters off balance all night.

He looked calm under pressure and mixed his pitches like a guy with way more experience. Nights like this don’t just help the Guardians—they help Messick carve out his place in the rotation for the long haul.

Bo Naylor’s Red-Hot Streak Continues

Bo Naylor started the game batting .188 on the year, but lately he’s been on a tear. He delivered two clutch, two-out, two-run singles against Minnesota, racking up four RBIs.

Career-Best Production

Friday’s hits pushed Naylor’s career-best hitting streak to seven games. He’s now 10-for-26 (.385) with 11 RBIs during that stretch.

That run includes a walk-off homer against the White Sox and a late two-run single versus the Royals earlier this week. Manager Stephen Vogt called out Naylor’s toughness, especially considering he’s caught over 120 games this season.

Naylor said he’s just kept things simple at the plate and stuck to his prep. Sometimes, that’s all you can do.

Playoff Picture Intensifies

With a little over a week left in the regular season, every game feels huge for Cleveland. They’re right in the mix for both the division and the Wild Card, but Vogt keeps reminding everyone to stay focused on what’s right in front of them.

Keys to Cleveland’s Success

The Guardians’ streak comes down to a few big things:

• Clutch hitting — Timely RBIs from guys like Naylor have swung close games their way.
• Dominant pitching — Young arms like Messick keep stepping up when it matters.
• Defensive consistency — Clean defense has limited opponents’ chances to score.

Looking Ahead

Cleveland’s playoff push faces a critical test in the coming days. They can’t afford any missteps against division rivals and fellow Wild Card contenders.

The Tigers are still in their sights, and the Wild Card race feels razor-thin. The Guardians will lean on their young core and trust Vogt’s leadership to get them through.

Momentum’s a tricky thing in September baseball, but right now, it’s on Cleveland’s side. If Messick keeps maturing on the mound and Naylor’s bat stays hot, maybe—just maybe—the Guardians could turn into one of the most dangerous teams heading into the postseason.

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Here is the source article for this story: Messick (9 K’s), Naylor (4 RBIs) lift Guardians in AL Central