Nelson Velázquez showcased his power at the plate, hitting two home runs to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 6-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins. The Royals had been on a three-game losing streak, but they quickly turned things around with a strong offensive performance. In the third inning, Velázquez’s first homer contributed to a four-run rally that put the Royals ahead after the Twins took an early 1-0 lead. Salvador Perez also played a key role, driving in the go-ahead run with a double and later hitting a solo homer in the fifth inning. The win was crucial for the Royals, as it helped them avoid a four-game losing streak, which would have been their longest of the season.
The Royals received solid pitching from right-hander Seth Lugo, who earned his fourth consecutive win. Lugo allowed just one run on six hits in six innings, lowering his ERA to an impressive 1.72. This marks the lowest ERA by a Royals pitcher through 12 starts in team history. Lugo’s performance was supported by the offensive firepower of Velázquez and Perez, who both had multiple home runs in the game. Velázquez’s second homer of the season and Perez’s team-leading 10th homer sealed the victory for the Royals, giving them a comfortable 6-1 lead.
The Twins’ starting pitcher, Bailey Ober, had a tough outing against the Royals for the second time this season. He gave up three homers and a total of six runs in five innings. Ober had previously struggled against the Royals in his first start of the season on March 31, surrendering eight runs. The loss was a disappointment for the Twins, who had relied on third baseman Jose Miranda for early offensive production. Miranda had driven in the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly, continuing his streak of being the first to contribute an RBI in the series. However, his efforts were not enough to overcome the Royals’ dominant performance.
The final game of the series between Kansas City and Minnesota will feature RHP Brady Singer (4-2, 2.70 ERA) taking the mound for the Royals. Singer has been in excellent form, allowing only one earned run in each of his last two starts. On the other side, the Twins will counter with RHP Chris Paddack (4-2, 4.39), who has earned no-decisions in his previous two outings. The game is scheduled to start at 12:10 p.m. at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Looking ahead, our next broadcast of Royals Baseball on Classic Hits KQNK 106.7 FM, 102.5 FM & 1530 AM will be on Friday. The Royals will be hosting the San Diego Padres in a 3-game series at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. The first pitch for Friday’s game is set for 7:10 p.m., and you can catch the pregame coverage on KQNK starting at 6:30 p.m.
