Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – The Minnesota Twins watched a tight game slip away in the ninth inning Thursday night, falling 8-6 to the Kansas City Royals in the opener of a four-game series at Target Field.
The loss dropped Minnesota to 29-35 on the season.
The Twins erased several deficits behind a strong night at the plate. Byron Buxton tied the game in the first inning with his 18th home run of the year, and Kody Clemens went deep twice, giving the Twins the lead in the third before adding a second blast in the fifth. Victor Caratini knotted the score again with a solo homer in the sixth, shortly after a rain delay that lasted more than an hour.
Kansas City regained the lead later in the sixth on a defensive miscue, when shortstop Ryan Kreidler and second baseman Luke Keaschall collided while trying to catch what should have been the third out of the inning.
The decisive blow came in the ninth. Salvador Perez and Lane Thomas opened the frame with back-to-back singles against Taylor Rogers, who was charged with the loss. Newly acquired reliever Justin Lawrence entered and, after a walk loaded the bases, surrendered a two-run single to Josh Rojas that put Kansas City ahead 8-6.
Minnesota put two runners aboard in the bottom of the ninth before Brooks Lee grounded out to end the game.
The Twins continue the series with Kansas City on Friday at Target Field.
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