Missed chances defined a 3-0 loss on Wednesday night as the Royals (6-3) completed a three-game sweep of the Twins (4-5) in Kansas City.
The Twins loaded the bases in the first and second innings, but failed to score on each occasion.
Trevor Plouffe popped out with the bases jammed to end the first, then Aaron Hicks, Joe Mauer and Josh Willingham failed to drive in a run with the bases loaded in the second.
Billy Butler’s solo home run off of Liam Hendriks in the first inning was all the Royals needed.
Hendriks (0-1), despite giving up the homer, pitched pretty well. It was the only run he allowed in five innings. The right-hander didn’t pitch longer because his pitch count reached 94 through five innings.
The Twins went 2-4 on the road trip, winning two of three in Detroit and all three in KC. Minnesota is off Thursday before opening a three game series against the Mets at Target Field on Friday.
Note: Aaron Hicks went 0-5 with three strikeouts, lowering his batting average to .057.
