By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The crowd at Kauffman Stadium got behind the Kansas City Royals and helped fuel the boys in blue to a come from behind 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
The Twins would take the lead in the top of the third inning off of starting pitcher Alec Marsh. A triple from Jose Miranda with two outs and Edouard Julien on second would score Julien for the early advantage. A double by Matt Walner would extend the lead driving in Miranda for the 2-0 lead.
Kansas City struggled to figure out Twins starter Bailey Ober, who pitched seven one hit innings, striking out seven batters. But the bats came alive as Minnesota brought on reliever Jhoan Duran in the bottom of the eighth.
After Michael Massey struck out to open the inning. A single by Freddy Fermin, a hit by pitch on Robbie Grossman, and a single from Kyle Isbel would get the Royals on the board, with Fermin coming around to score. Tommy Pham would continue to be a spark plug for the Royals, singling to drive in pinch runner Dairon Blanco, who scored on a throwing error by shortstop Brooks Lee, and tying the game up at two.
The rally would continue with Bobby Witt Jr at the plate, the phenom shortstop hitting a line drive single into center field, allowing Isbel to trot across home plate as the Kauffman crowd roared like a playoff environment
Salvador Perez would line out for the second out of the inning before MJ Melendez singled to score Pham, but Witt Jr was thrown out at home as center fielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. hit cutoff man second baseman Willi Castro who got the ball catcher Ryan Jeffers for the out.
Daniel Lynch earned the win, pitching three scoreless innings of relief while striking out four and giving up one hit. Lucas Erceg earned his tenth save of the season.
The Royals got six hits in the game, coming from Isbel, Grossman, Fermin, Melendez, Witt Jr., and Pham, with Isbel, Witt Jr, and Pham driving in runs.
The Royals have now won three games in a row and will look for a series sweep against the Twins on Sunday. Michael Wacha will start for Kansas City against Simeon Woods Richardson for Minnesota. First pitch is at 1:10pm, pregame will be at 12:30 on KFEQ.