Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – The Minnesota Twins managed just four hits Monday night at Kauffman Stadium, falling to the Kansas City Royals 3-1 to drop to 1-and-3 on the young season.
Minnesota actually struck first. Matt Wallner sent a solo home run over the fence in the top of the second inning to give the Twins an early 1-0 lead. But Kansas City wasted no time responding. Kyle Isbel slugged a two-run homer in the bottom of the second to put the Royals in front for good, a lead they would never relinquish.
Twins starter Simeon Woods Richardson was tagged with the loss, allowing two runs on five hits over five innings of work, throwing 83 pitches. Kris Bubic earned the win for Kansas City, going six innings and surrendering just the one run on two hits while striking out four. John Schreiber closed things out in the ninth to pick up the save.
The Royals added an insurance run in the seventh — a solo shot off reliever Kody Funderburk from Isaac Collins — to make it 3-1, which is where the final score would stand.
Minnesota’s offense went cold after Wallner’s second-inning blast, going hitless in situations with runners in scoring position and mustering little threat against Kansas City’s pitching staff. Byron Buxton, Royce Lewis, and Josh Bell were all held hitless on the night.
The Twins and Royals will meet again Wednesday evening at Kauffman Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 p.m. CDT.
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