Lewis’ Walk-Off Triple Lifts Twins Past Royals, But Buxton Exits With Hip Soreness

Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – Royce Lewis delivered a two-out, two-run triple in the bottom of the ninth inning Tuesday night, lifting the Minnesota Twins to a 3-2 walk-off win over the Kansas City Royals in the opener of a three-game series at Target Field.

Trailing 2-1 entering the ninth, the Twins opened the frame with a leadoff single from Victor Caratini off Royals reliever Alex Lange. Brooks Lee drew a one-out walk before Lange struck out Ryan Kreidler for the second out. Lewis then turned on a 1-1 pitch and drove it into the gap, scoring both runners and ending the game. It was Lewis’ first triple of the season.

Taj Bradley was outstanding in the start for Minnesota, allowing two runs on three hits over six innings while striking out 10 and walking three on 102 pitches. He did not factor into the decision. Jack Anderson (1-0) picked up the win after a scoreless top of the ninth, the first victory of his major league career. Lange fell to 1-6 and was charged with a blown save.

Minnesota struck first in the fourth, when Kody Clemens doubled and came around to score on a Josh Bell single. Kansas City answered in the sixth with an aggressive sequence, as Josh Rojas stole home on the front end of a double steal and Salvador Perez followed with an RBI single to put the Royals ahead 2-1. Royals starter Seth Lugo was in line for the win after giving up one run over six innings.

The night was not without concern for the Twins. Center fielder Byron Buxton left the game in the fifth inning with soreness in his right hip after running to first base. It is the same joint that kept him out of the All-Star Game earlier this month.

Minnesota out-hit Kansas City 10 to four, and Twins pitching combined for 14 strikeouts while holding the Royals to a .133 team batting average.

The win moves the Twins to 54-54 on the season, winners of three straight and five of their last six. Minnesota sits third in the American League Central, two games behind the first-place Chicago White Sox.

The series continues Wednesday at 6:40 p.m. at Target Field, with the finale set for Thursday at 12:40 p.m.