Will Brennan provided the perfect ending to the Cleveland Guardians’ weekend, delivering a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Minnesota Twins 5-2.

Cleveland improved to 30-17 with a sweep of the third-place Twins, who have dropped six games in a row and are now 5.5 games behind the Guardians.

The Guardians jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Tyler Freeman reached on an infield single, and Andres Gimenez launched his third home run of the year off Minnesota’s Chris Paddack.

Twins third baseman Jose Miranda cut the lead in half with a home run in the third inning.

Cleveland’s lead held up until the top of the ninth. Emmanuel Clase came on for the save, but his error allowed pinch-runner Byron Buxton to score to tie the game at 2-2.

However, Clase (3-1) turned out to be a winner in the end. In the bottom of the ninth, Andres Gimenez drew a walk, and Jose Ramirez made the second out by flying to left.

Instead of taking their chances with Josh Naylor, the Twins gave him an intentional walk and decided to face Brennan instead.

Brennan blasted a three-run homer to kick off another wild Guardians’ celebration.

WHAT’S THE SECRET?

Starting pitching has been the unsung hero for Cleveland in this series. Tanner Bibee pitched seven strong innings, giving up just four hits and a walk while striking out eight.

Earlier in the weekend, Triston McKenzie and Logan Allen lasted at least six innings and gave up one earned run or fewer.

TO BOO OR NOT TO BOO?

Cleveland will host the New York Mets to begin a three-game series tonight at 6:10 p.m. Former Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (currently batting .197) will play in front of a Cleveland crowd for the first time since bolting for the greener pastures of Queens. How will the fans greet him?

Ben Lively will start for Cleveland against the Mets’ Tylor Megill.

(Jeff Gorman is a professional baseball announcer who has worked for the Lake County Captains and Lake Erie Crushers.)