MINNEAPOLIS – The Taj Bradley of April is back.
Bradley turned in one of his best starts of the season – truly, one of the best of his career – on Tuesday as the Twins opened a critical three-game series against the Guardians with a 3-1 win. The right-hander struck out 10, reaching double digits for the second straight game, and didn’t issue a walk as he dominated Cleveland's lineup.
It was just his third career start with 10 or more strikeouts and no walks, two of which have come this season (the first coming on April 7).
The Guardians managed just three hits against Bradley, and they hit six balls out of the infield against him in seven innings. His meticulous control showed he has fully regained the early-season form that had the Twins so excited.
The only blemish against Bradley came in the form of a Rhys Hoskins solo homer in the second. He worked around a one-out single in the fourth, then dodged a leadoff double in the seventh to protect Minnesota’s slim lead.
Bradley averaged 97.6 mph on his four-seam fastball (his season average is 96.9), and got a robust 25 whiffs on 56 Cleveland swings (45 percent). He leaned heavily on his cutter and splitter, throwing each of the three pitches approximately one-third of the time.
Austin Martin, Brooks Lee and Kody Clemens drove in runs for the Twins on a day when Cleveland played uncharacteristically poor defense.
The Twins (45-47) have won seven of their last 10 games and 13 out of 20 to stay in the mix of a close American League Wild Card race.