The Twins weren’t able to sweep Kansas City on Sunday, falling to the Royals 8-6. Minnesota had plenty of chances to retake the lead but they ended up leaving 13 men on base in the loss.
Kansas City tagged starting pitcher Martin Perez for three runs in the second inning, sending eight men to the plate. Despite the shaky start, Perez ended up retiring 14 batters in a row and was eventually pulled in the seventh inning.
The Twins got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning, courtesy of Miguel Sano’s seventh home run of the year.
.@SanoMiguel drives the green. #BombaSquad pic.twitter.com/XJIOIyrqVi
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 16, 2019
Later in the inning, Max Kepler plated Marwin Gonzalez, cutting the lead to one run and the Twins loaded the bases but Nelson Curz struck out to end the frame.
The Royals would add two more in the seventh, which prompted the end of Perez’s day. The southpaw went 6.2 innings, surrendering 6 hits, 5 runs (4 earned) with 7 strikeouts and 1 walk.
Once again, the Twins threatened to tie the game in the bottom half. Nelson Cruz belted a home run to cut the deficit back to two runs, and the Twins would load the bases but neither Jonathan Schoop or pinch-hitter Mitch Garver could deliver.
Our 7️⃣th hit of the game once again drives in a run. 💣#BombaSquad #RESPEC7 pic.twitter.com/YBR2qD0LDt
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 16, 2019
The Royals countered with three runs in the top half of eighth and once again Minnesota’s offense had a chance to tie the game in the bottom half.
Nelson Cruz delivered a two-run double, scoring Ehire Adrianza and Kepler. With the tying run at the dish, Eddie Rosario popped out and Sano struck out looking.
The Twins rallied one more time in the bottom of the ninth, Max Kepler came through for his 100th career double, scoring Schoop and Cruz came to the plate representing the go-ahead run but struck out.
With the loss, the Twins fall to 47-23 on the season and will host the Boston Red Sox for a three-game series starting Monday.
Game one of the series should be a fun pitching matchup, as Jose Berrios will go up against former Cy Young winner David Price, with first pitch at 7:10.
