It’s hard to win a race when your opponent has a four-step head start.

The Cleveland Guardians were losing 4-0 before any of them picked up a bat. Their comeback fell just short in a 5-4 loss at Progressive Field on Sunday.

Minnesota snapped a four-game losing streak while ending Cleveland’s four-game winning streak.

DIGGING THE HOLE

The Twins jumped on Guardians starter Joey Cantillo in the first inning.

Matt Wallner hit an RBI single, and Royce Lewis added a run-scoring double.

Both of them scored on a two-run single by Trevor Larnach.

In the bottom of the first, Jose Ramirez cut the deficit in half with a two-run homer. The 406-foot blast to right field was his 23rd homer of the season.

Cantillo (2-2) settled down on the mound for Cleveland, keeping the Twins off the scoreboard until the sixth inning. He struck out a season-high nine batters.

Minnesota scored an insurance run in the eighth inning off Jakob Junis. Kody Clemens (Roger’s kid) bunted for a run-scoring single to put the Twins up 5-4.

COMEBACK TIME?

Since Minnesota traded most of their bullpen last week, the Guardians had a chance to come back in the bottom of the ninth.

Nolan Jones walked and moved to third on a double by CJ Kayfus, which was his first big-league hit.

Pinch-hitter Brayan Rocchio knocked them both in with a two-run double to cut the lead to 5-4 with no outs.

Unfortunately, nobody could bring Rocchio home to tie the game. Steven Kwan lined out, and Daniel Schneemann and Ramirez flied out.

OFF TO THE BIG APPLE

The Guardians will visit the New York Mets tonight at 7:10.

Slade Cecconi (5-4) will start for Cleveland, while Sean Manaea (1-1) will take the mound for the Mets.