MINNEAPOLIS — Royce Lewis delivered when it mattered most Tuesday night, driving a two-run, two-out triple off the top of the right-center fence in the bottom of the ninth inning to propel the Minnesota Twins to a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
Lewis, who entered the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh, crushed a 1-1 cutter from Royals reliever Alex Lange (1-6) to secure his second career walk-off hit. The loss marked Lange’s third blown save of the season.
The win extends Minnesota’s winning streak to three games and marks their fifth victory in six contests. At 54-54, the third-place Twins now sit just two games behind the first-place Chicago White Sox in a tight AL Central race.
Late-Game Heroics Caps Sharp Pitching
The drama built in the final frame after Victor Caratini led off the ninth with a single off Lange, followed by a one-out walk to Brooks Lee. After Lange struck out Ryan Kreidler, Lewis stepped up to deliver the game-winning blow.
Reliever Jack Anderson (1-0) earned his first major league win after striking out two in a scoreless top of the ninth. It was a whirlwind day for Anderson, who was optioned to the minors Sunday and recalled Tuesday from Triple-A St. Paul after Minnesota placed right-hander Cole Sands on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow strain.
Starter Taj Bradley set the tone early for Minnesota. The 25-year-old right-hander struck out 10 batters and walked three over six strong innings, allowing two runs on three hits. It was Bradley’s fourth double-digit strikeout performance of the season.
Early Action and Injury Setback
Minnesota drew first blood in the fourth inning when Kody Clemens doubled and was brought home by a Josh Bell RBI single.
However, the Twins suffered a potential setback in the fifth when star center fielder Byron Buxton left the game with right hip soreness after running to first base. The issue involves the same joint that forced Buxton to miss this month’s All-Star Game.
Kansas City took a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning behind creative base-running and clutch hitting. Josh Rojas stole home on the front end of a double steal, followed immediately by an RBI single from Salvador Perez.
Royals starter Seth Lugo was stellar, allowing just one run over six innings. Kansas City’s defense backed him up by turning five double plays—the most by any Major League team in a single game this year.
Up Next
The AL Central clash continues Wednesday night in Minneapolis:
- Minnesota: All-Star RHP Joe Ryan (6-6, 3.38 ERA) takes the mound.
- Kansas City: RHP Randy Dobnak (0-0, 1.42 ERA) is expected to start against his former team.
