The Twins Ended Their 2025 Home Schedule With A Much-Needed Victory

Minneapolis – There won’t be all too many fond memories for Minnesota Twins fans when they look back on 2025. They had a 9-18 record in June, a fire sale at the trade deadline, and the Pohlads' announcement that they were no longer selling the team on August 13.

The Twins also haven’t played well in the last two months, especially this homestand, where they went 2-8 going into the final game at Target Field on Sunday.

Everyone needed something good to remember as they wrap up the year by ending the Cleveland Guardians' 10-game winning streak. So how’d they do it? Another strong start from Simeon Woods Richardson and two two-out home runs from Brooks Lee and Royce Lewis.

“These games are going to decide who goes to the playoffs and potentially who wins the World Series,” said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. “You want to put your best foot forward and go out there and not just compete but beat these teams when they’re putting everything on the line to try to get in.”

“Yeah, it was a good one,” Lewis said. “You never know if it's going to be your last at-bat here or what. You never know. I just wanted to enjoy it, and my grandma told me, 'Hit like you're hitting on my birthday.' Every time I've hit on her birthday, I've hit a homer, so she told me that last night, and it worked out. So I might as well do that on Tuesday, too."

The Twins are playing their last four series of the year against postseason contenders. They pulled their last spoiler victory over the New York Yankees on Monday and were able to prevent the Guardians from tying for first place with the Detroit Tigers with the 6-2 win on Sunday.

Woods Richardson gave the Twins five full innings after a shaky first inning, during which he threw 31 pitches. Then, he proceeded to allow only three runners to reach through the next four innings on two singles and a walk, keeping his team in the game as they trailed 2-1 when he exited.

“They’re pesky,” said Woods Richardson. “They put together good at-bats. They’re a contact team. They’re always looking to extend ABs. So the only thing I could do is just throw strikes. Couldn’t do that [in] the first inning. I had a long first inning. But we found our footing and just throw as many strikes as we could to keep our team in the game.”

The Twins were their own version of being pesky in the bottom half of the sixth, except they used home run swings. Brooks Lee hit the first two-out home run off Matt Festa to make it a 3-2 game.

“It’s good for us to end on a better note,” said Lee. “Still got six games left, so yeah, I think it’s a cool little cherry on top for the homestand. But yeah, still got six games left. Got to keep it going.”

Lewis didn’t even get the start in this one, coming off the bench in the bottom of the seventh to pinch hit for Trevor Larnach. He got a slider down and away in the zone from Hunter Gaddis on a 2-1 count and sent it over the left field bleachers, and began to trout around the bases paths like he did after his home run in the AL Wild Card Series two years ago.

“He's (Gaddis) a tough pitcher to face,” said Lewis. “I mean, you've seen how he worked, obviously a tough day for him contact-wise, like the ball just didn't bounce away. I mean, it's been bouncing their way for what, 18 games or so? They can have one day where they mess up."

With the win, the Twins are 38-43 in 2025, marking their first season with a losing record at home since 2021, when they also had the same exact record at Target Field. The win also ensured Minnesota would not be swept in a four-game series by a division opponent at home for the second time this month.

“It's a great way to end things for all the fans that are here right now watching us play our last home game, said Baldelli. “The drama was there. It was an enjoyable game. We had a big moment with Royce, obviously coming through, making it happen. Not the easiest at-bat.”