Bailey Ober pitched six scoreless innings, and Carlos Santana hit a two-run homer as the Twins beat the Cleveland Guardians in the first game of a double header, 4-2, at Target Field for their first victory against their American League Central rival this season.

The victory pulled the Twins to within 2½ games of first-place Cleveland pending a 7:10 p.m. first pitch tonight. Right-hander Louie Varland was recalled from Class AAA St. Paul to make the start against Guardians right-hander Alex Cobb.

Ober (12-5) allowed only two hits and two walks and struck out nine in his ninth straight quality start.

Manny Margot started the first with a double and came home on Santana’s two-out, two-run home run off Joey Cantillo (0-2), and Ryan Jeffers made it 3-0 with a solo shot in the fourth. Santana started his career in Cleveland in 2010.

Cleveland shortstop Brayan Rocchio hit a two-run home run off Jorge Alcala to make it 3-2 in the seventh inning, but Kyle Farmer scored Max Kepler with a sacrifice fly in the Twins’ half to make it 4-2.

Jhoan Duran struck out the side in the ninth for his 16th save.