Sporting their snazzy blue CLE City Connect jerseys, the Cleveland Guardians kicked off the weekend with a 3-2 home victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.

Cleveland starter Triston McKenzie had trouble finding the plate with four walks, but he got the Twins to bounce into three double plays. His only major mistake was a solo home run by Alex Kirilloff, which put Minnesota on top 1-0 in the third inning.

The Guardians finally got on the scoreboard when David Fry launched a two-run homer to the left-field porch in the sixth inning.

Minnesota tied the score in the top of the eighth with an RBI double from pinch-hitter Kyle Farmer.

As usual, Jose Ramirez came to the rescue with his 10th home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth to put Cleveland on top 3-2.

Ramirez tied Earl Averill on Cleveland’s all-time home-run list with 226. He only trails the 1990s triumvirate of Jim Thome, Albert Belle, and Manny Ramirez.

Emmanuel Clase shut down the Twins in the ninth for his 13th save.

FANCY MANAGING

Cleveland skipper Stephen Vogt made an early pitch for Manager of the Year with a clever move in the sixth inning. Ramirez grounded out but got another chance with Vogt successfully argued that Twins shortstop Carlos Correa had violated the shift rule.

Back at the plate, Ramirez hit a foul popup, but the Twins lost it in the lights. Ramirez almost cashed in with a home run, but it hooked foul. He finally struck out, but Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers gunned the ball into center field trying to catch Andres Gimenez, who ended up on third.

Gimenez was out at the plate on a Josh Naylor ground ball before Fry connected on his home run.

WHAT’S NEXT

Cleveland (28-17) has a 3.5-game lead on the third-place Twins, who have lost four games in a row.  Logan Allen (4-2) will start tonight for the Guardians against Minnesota’s Bailey Ober (4-1). First pitch is set for 6:10 p.m.