With a pair of home runs from Alex Kirilloff and two highlight-reel catches from Byron Buxton, the Minnesota Twins defeated the Kansas City Royals 9-1 on Friday night.
The Twins got on the board in the second inning when Luis Arraez was hit by Brady Singer with the bases loaded but the big blow came on Kirilloff’s first career home run in the bottom of the third.
𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙗𝙮𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡 !
First career home run for @AKirilloff19 đź‘Ź pic.twitter.com/0Od7Iv9pGD
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) May 1, 2021
Kirilloff’s three-run blast put the Twins up 4-0 but the Royals got a run back when Carlos Santana homered off Michael Pineda in the fourth. Kirilloff had an answer, however, hitting his second home run of the game in the fifth inning.
TOUCH 'EM ALL (again), @AKirilloff19 pic.twitter.com/KPwSj99rpu
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) May 1, 2021
While Kirilloff was getting it done at the plate, Buxton did his job in the outfield. Starter Michael Pineda had a solid evening, allowing one run over five innings but owed a thank you to Buxton for a diving catch in the top of the fifth.
BYRON BUXTON IS SUPERMAN pic.twitter.com/7nIhF1Uo9e
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) May 1, 2021
Buxton continued his early Gold Glove campaign by taking a home run away from Andrew Benintendi in the seventh inning.
BYRON BUXTON FOR MVP pic.twitter.com/o23BYHlqWx
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) May 1, 2021
With Buxton and Kirilloff leading the way, the Twins left the first-place Royals in the dust with four runs in the eighth to secure the victory.
The Twins (9-15) will host the second game of their series with the Royals on Saturday afternoon.
