Nelson Cruz slugged his 400th career home run and Miguel Sano smashed a pair of homers as the Twins topped the Royals 12-8 in their final home game of the regular season on Sunday at Target Field.
Cruz hit his first career homer in 2006 against the Twins at the Metrodome, and he hammered his 400th in the fourth inning to give the Twins an 8-6 lead.
The 39-year-old’s blast was the third long ball of the day for the Twins, with Sano launched his 32nd and 33rd homers in the first and third innings, respectively.
Marwin Gonzalez went 2-for-4 with three RBI and Eddie Rosario had three doubles and four RBI.
The Twins’ magic number to clinch the AL Central title is down to three, although the number could be two if the Indians lose to the Phillies Sunday night.
Meanwhile, Martin Perez and Kyle Gibson have each possibly pitched themselves out of a spot in the postseason starting rotation. Gibson was rocked in his last start, and Perez was jolted for five runs on eight hits and didn’t get out of the third inning.
Up next: Twins wrap up the season with a six-game road trip Tuesday-Sunday, with three in Detroit Tuesday-Thursday followed by three more in Kansas City Friday-Sunday.
