The Cleveland Guardians won their second straight game in Minnesota, splitting the series and restoring the 3½-game lead they had when they came to town.

Cleveland won 5-3 yesterday after breaking a seven-game losing streak that threatened their position atop the AL Central Division.

Tanner Bibee (10-4) made a welcome return to the starting rotation after taking a week off due to nagging injuries. He gave up just one run in 5 2/3 innings.

That run came on a Byron Buxton homer in the second inning that gave the Twins a 1-0 lead.

Jose Ramirez tied the game in the fourth with a solo home run, his 31st of the year.

OFFENSIVE BURST

Cleveland surged into the lead with four runs in the sixth inning. David Fry started the party with his 11th homer of the year to put Cleveland up 2-1.

Andres Gimenez and Daniel Schneemann walked and scored on RBI singles by Brayan Rocchio and Steven Kwan.

Will Brennan doubled to score Rocchio and increase Cleveland’s lead to 5-1.

Minnesota moved closer with another homer by Buxton, this one a two-run shot off reliever Nick Sandlin.

But Emmanuel Clase did his thing in the ninth to earn his 35th save, surviving a bases-loaded situation with no outs with a strikeout and a game-ending double play.

Ben Lively (10-7) will start tonight for the Guardians to open a three-game series at Progressive Field against the Chicago Cubs. Shota Imanaga (9-2) will take the mound for the Cubbies.