Guardians fall to Twins 5-4 on Aug 3, 2025, despite a late rally. José Ramírez homered and Daniel Schneemann stayed hot, but it wasn't enough to win.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a day of frustrating 'what ifs' for the Cleveland Guardians, who dropped a 5-4 heartbreaker to the Minnesota Twins on Sunday. Despite a furious ninth-inning rally and promising performances from their youngest players, the Guardians couldn't overcome a rocky start. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Twins, but for Cleveland fans, the story was as much about the exciting glimpses of the future as it was about the final score.
Daniel Schneemann continued his hot streak with three hits on Sunday, marking his second consecutive three-hit game for the Guardians.
The game was nearly lost before it began. Starter Joey Cantillo was tagged for four runs in the first inning, putting the Guardians in a deep hole. But the team's ace, José Ramírez, immediately answered with a towering two-run homer. From there, Cantillo settled in remarkably, allowing no more runs and striking out a season-high nine batters over 5 2/3 innings. The game culminated in a dramatic ninth-inning comeback attempt, sparked by rookie C.J. Kayfus and a pinch-hit RBI single from Brayan Rocchio that brought Cleveland within one. The rally ultimately fell short, but the team's refusal to quit was on full display.
The biggest silver linings came from the youth movement. Infielder Daniel Schneemann is officially on fire, collecting three hits for the second straight game and proving to be a consistent sparkplug in the lineup. Meanwhile, C.J. Kayfus, the club's No. 5 prospect making his weekend debut, recorded his first-ever MLB hit with a crucial double in the ninth. He later scored, showing the poise and potential that made him such a highly-touted player in Columbus, where he posted a 134 wRC+ before his call-up.
Kayfus's promotion was part of a larger roster shuffle over the weekend. To make room for the promising rookie, outfielder Johnathan Rodriguez was optioned back to Triple-A. The club also made a move to bolster its bullpen depth, claiming right-handed reliever Carlos Hernandez off waivers from the Detroit Tigers and optioning lefty Tim Herrin to Columbus. These moves signal a clear focus on injecting new talent while shoring up the pitching staff for the stretch run.
While dropping a series finale always stings, especially to a division rival, the day wasn't a total loss. The flashes from Kayfus and the sustained excellence from Schneemann are exactly what you want to see as the season progresses. The team gets a chance for a quick reset as they welcome the New York Mets to town tomorrow. All eyes will be on Slade Cecconi to set the tone and get the Guardians back in the win column.
