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 Cental, 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.
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.
Victor Caratini singled against Alex Lange (1-6) leading off the ninth and Brooks Lee walked with one out. Lange struck out No. 9 hitter Ryan Kreidler but Lewis, who entered as a pinch hitter in the seventh, drove a 1-1 cutter off the top of the right-center fence to win it.
It was Lewis’ second career walk-off hit, and Lange's third blown save this season.
Jack Anderson (1-0) struck out two in a scoreless inning for his first major league win. Anderson was optioned to the minors Sunday and then recalled Tuesday from Triple-A St. Paul when Minnesota placed right-hander Cole Sands on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to July 27) with a right elbow strain.
The 25-year-old Bradley struck out 10 and walked three while giving up two runs and three hits. It was his fourth double-digit strikeout game this season.
Royals starter Seth Lugo allowed one run in six innings and Kansas City turned five double plays, most by a big league team in one game this year.
All-Star RHP Joe Ryan (6-6, 3.38 ERA) pitches Wednesday night for the Twins. RHP Randy Dobnak (0-0, 1.42) is expected to start for the Royals against his former team.
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