After starting their biggest series of the season with a doubleheader sweep of first-place Cleveland, and with a chance to win three of four after Saturday’s loss against the American League Central division leaders, the Twins wound up right where they started the weekend — 3 1/2 games back — following Sunday’s 5-3 loss.

The Twins loaded the bases with none out against Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase in the ninth on Sunday, but Willi Castro struck out swinging and Trevor Larnach grounded into a double play to end the game.

Guardians All-Stars Jose Ramirez and David Fry hit solo home runs, and Cleveland broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning that included three consecutive two-out, run-scoring hits in front of 30,084 at Target Field.

The victory allowed Cleveland to leave town with a road split and the same 3 1/2-game lead over second-place Minnesota it held when the series started. The Twins might not have lost ground, but they needed to more wins, especially with Kansas City breathing down their necks for the third and final AL wild card spot.

The Royals, off Sunday after a two-game interleague series against St. Louis, is now a half-game behind the Twins with the teams set to start a three-game series Monday at Target Field. First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m.

Byron Buxton supplied all the Twins’ offense, giving them a 1-0 lead with a solo home run off Tanner Bibee (10-4) in the second inning and pulling them within 5-3 with a two-run shot off Nick Sandlin in the eighth.

Bibee allowed six hits but didn’t walk a batter and struck out five in 5 2/3 innings. Clase earned his 35th save.

Twins rookie David Festa, making his sixth major league start, had a short leash. After he gave up a game-tying home run to Ramirez, he was pulled with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth of a 1-1 run game. Jorge Alcala came in and retired the next two batters to keep the game tied, but the bullpen ran into problems in the sixth.

Left-hander Caleb Thielbar gave up a one-out, go-ahead homer to Fry, then walked two before striking out Bo Naylor. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli brought in Cole Sands, but the reliable right-hander was greeted with a broken-bat, RBI single by Brayan Rocchio before giving up an RBI single to leadoff hitter Steven Kwan and an RBI double to Will Brennan to make it 5-1.

Thielbar (2-3) was charged with three earned runs on a hit and two walks while getting just two outs.

The Twins blew through five pitchers, but Randy Dobnak finished the game with three scoreless innings for Minnesota.

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