CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Twins’ odds of winning the American League Central Division have dwindled to single digits because of their play over the course of the past month.

But that doesn’t make this week’s four-week set in Cleveland any less important. In fact, it may be more so, considering the Twins, who currently hold the third wild card spot, need to keep winning to just hang on to secure a spot in the playoffs.

And that made Monday’s loss even more crushing.

The division-leading Guardians surged ahead with a Kyle Manzardo two-run home run off Griffin Jax in the eighth inning on Monday to take a 4-3 win in the first game of the big series at Progressive Field.

Manzardo’s blast, just the fourth Jax has given up all season, came after Jax had masterfully cleaned up a bases-loaded mess that starter Pablo López had left him an inning earlier. Jax struck out Andrés Giménez and then got José Ramírez to ground out to Carlos Santana at first, protecting the Twins’ razor-thin advantage in the seventh inning.

But after allowing a Josh Naylor double to begin the eighth, Manzardo ambushed a high fastball to put the Guardians on top for the first time all night.

It came on a night where the Twins had long, productive at-bats but were unable to push more than three runs across despite many opportunities.

The Twins scored their first run in the third when Carlos Correa, who doubled earlier in the inning, came around to score on a wild pitch. Byron Buxton then socked a single up the middle, bringing home another pair of runs to give the Twins a three-run edge.

For much of the night, that was enough for López, who was efficient and dominant.

López ran into a bit of trouble in the fifth, hitting Bryan Rocchio with a pitch with two outs. Rocchio came around to score on a Giménez hit, but the Twins were able to avoid further damage when López threw to Correa covering at third base to nab a runner, Angel Martinez, and end the threat.

Lopez got himself in trouble again in the seventh, loading the bases with no outs — two runners reached via walks, including one that was on four pitches — before getting the first out of the inning.

A Martínez single brought home the Guardians’ second run and ended Lopez’s night. And while Jax was able to deliver in the seventh inning, the late home run was another gut punch for the Twins.

Kyle Manzardo #9 celebrates with manager Stephen Vogt #12 of the Cleveland Guardians after Manzardo hit a two-run homer during the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field on Sept. 16, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Cleveland Guardians’ Angel Martinez, right, loses his helmet after being tagged out by Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, left, after being caught in a rundown between home plate and third base in the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton crashes into the outfield padding after catching a fly ball for an out against Cleveland Guardians’ Bo Naylor in the second inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)