(AP) — Minnesota rookie Joe Ryan and reliever Jovani Moran combined to pitch no-hit ball until Bobby Witt Jr. doubled with one out in the ninth inning as the Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 6-3.
Ryan was pulled after seven innings and 106 pitches, four shy of his big league high. There has never been a no-hitter at Target Field, and the crowd of 19,005 booed when Twins manager Rocco Baldelli sent Moran to the mound to start the eighth. Moran worked a perfect eighth. He struck out Drew Waters to begin the ninth before walking pinch-hitter Hunter Dozier and MJ Melendez.
The Royals hadn’t come close to a hit until Witt lined a 1-2 fastball for a clean drive to left for an RBI double, setting off more boos from the fans.
The Royals will take on the Twins again Wednesday night with first pitch at 6:40pm. Coverage begins at 6pm on KFEQ in St. Joseph.