The Minnesota Twins battered the Cleveland Guardians 11-1 last night to open a four-game series at Progressive Field

The Twins are recovering from a slow start, just like they did last year. They are 13-16, while the Guardians dropped to 15-13.

Detroit has started the season hot with an 18-11 record to take early control of the AL Central Division.

If Kansas City can live up to its potential, we could see an entertaining four-way battle for the division crown this year.

SOME DAYS …

Gavin Williams (2-2) had one of those days on the mound for Cleveland. Edouard Julien led off the game with a home run, and things got worse from there.

Byron Buxton hit a two-run single in the second to put the Twins up 4-0, and Williams’ day was over after two innings of work.

The Twins extended the lead to 6-0 in the fifth. Jonah Bride and Harrison Bader hit run-scoring singles off Tim Herrin.

Cleveland’s only run off Bailey Ober (3-1) came in the bottom of the fifth. Jhonkensy Noel singled to score Gabriel Arias.

PILING ON

Cody Bolton debuted on the mound for the Guardians, as Joey Cantillo was sent down to Columbus.

Minnesota scored three runs off Bolton in the sixth. Ty France hit a two-run double and scored on a single by Mickey Gasper.

Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt preserved his bullpen by bringing in a non-pitcher for the second day in a row.

Infielder Will Wilson pitched two innings and gave up a two-run homer to Ryan Jeffers in the eighth.

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS

The good news is that Steven Kwan extended his hitting streak to 11 games. The bad news is that reliever Paul Sewald left the game with a shoulder injury (see photo).

The Guardians will try to put all of this unpleasantness behind them tonight as the series continues at 6:10.

Tanner Bibee (2-2) will start for Cleveland against the Twins’ Chris Paddock (0-3).