MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Royce Lewis hit a two-run triple with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Minnesota Twins a 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.
Taj Bradley threw six strong innings for the Twins (54-54), who have won three in a row and five of six. They are third in the AL Central, just two games behind the first-place Chicago White Sox.
Kody Clemens doubled for Minnesota in the fourth and scored on Josh Bell’s single. But center fielder Byron Buxton left in the fifth with right hip soreness after running to first base. It’s the same joint that caused him to miss the All-Star Game this month.
Buxton wasn’t the only player to leave the game early due to a physical issue. Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino exited in the ninth inning, lifted for pinch-hitter Tyler Tolbert due to a sore right hand.
Kansas City went ahead 2-1 in the sixth when Josh Rojas stole home on the front end of a double steal and Salvador Perez had an RBI single.
Seth Lugo exited with a quality start pitching six innings of one-run ball for the Royals. Lugo was in line for the win, but Lewis’ walk-off triple resulted in a blown save for reliever Alex Lange.
Up next
Wednesday night, Royals right-hander Randy Dobnak (0-0, 1.42 ERA) goes up against Twins righty Joe Ryan (6-6, 3.38 ERA) in a game that starts at 6:40 p.m. CT.
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