The Minnesota Twins powered their way to a convincing 9-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night. They rode strong offensive performances from Kody Clemens, Matt Wallner, and red-hot rookie Luke Keaschall.
Starter Joe Ryan turned in another dominant outing. The Twins extended their recent momentum and kept up their mastery over a division rival.
The win feels like it sets the tone for the rest of the series. Minnesota’s looking to tighten its grip in the AL Central race.
Twins’ Offense Sparks Early and Often
From the very first inning, Minnesota’s bats looked locked in. Luke Keaschall, who’s been on fire since coming back from a three-month injury, wasted no time making his mark.
The rookie drove in a run in the first. Then he added another RBI single in the second inning, giving him six hits and eight RBIs over his last three games.
His bat speed and clutch hitting have quickly made him a player to watch for the Twins down the stretch. You can just feel the momentum building whenever he steps to the plate.
Jeffers and Clemens Deliver Big Blows
Ryan Jeffers was equally impactful, going 3-for-5 on the night with two RBIs. His smooth swing and ability to drive in runs make him one of Minnesota’s most reliable bats right now.
The biggest power surge of the night came in the fourth inning. Kody Clemens blasted his career-high 13th home run — a two-run shot that put the Twins in full control.
Matt Wallner joined the long-ball parade with a solo homer. That just added to Kansas City’s frustration.
Joe Ryan Extends His Royals Dominance
The offense did plenty to secure the win, but Joe Ryan once again showed why he’s such a nightmare for Kansas City hitters. The right-hander improved to 11-5 on the season after tossing five strong innings.
He allowed just one run on four hits, didn’t walk anyone, and struck out five. Ryan just made it look easy at times.
Unmatched Success Against Kansas City
Ryan’s mastery of the Royals is honestly a little wild. With Friday’s win, he’s now 8-0 with a microscopic 1.34 ERA in 10 career starts against them.
Kansas City just can’t figure him out. His efficient, strike-throwing approach has been a major key to Minnesota’s dominance in these matchups.
Royals Show Signs of Life, But Fall Short
Despite the loss, the Royals had their moments. Mike Yastrzemski opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with a leadoff home run, immediately giving Kansas City some hope.
Later, Bobby Witt Jr. showed off his own power with another long ball. Outside of those flashes, though, the Royals’ offense struggled to keep any pressure on Twins pitching.
Seth Lugo Stumbles in Rare Off Night
Veteran starter Seth Lugo faced one of his roughest outings of the season. He surrendered multiple runs in three of the four innings he pitched, dropping to 8-6 on the year.
The Twins’ aggressive approach at the plate forced Lugo to work from behind in counts. He never really settled into any sort of rhythm.
Looking Ahead in the Series
The series resumes Saturday night. The Royals will turn to Noah Cameron (5-5, 2.68 ERA) in hopes of evening the score.
Minnesota will counter with Bailey Ober (4-6, 5.38 ERA). He’ll look to build on recent improvements, even after an up-and-down season.
Key Factors for Saturday’s Matchup
- The Royals need to generate more sustained offense beyond the long ball.
- The Twins will aim to keep their middle-order bats hot, with Keaschall, Jeffers, and Clemens in a groove.
- Pitching efficiency will be crucial — whichever starter limits early damage will put their team in the driver’s seat.
Right now, Minnesota’s lineup looks sharp, and Ryan keeps setting the tone with his strong outings.
The Twins have plenty of momentum. Kansas City, though, really has to regroup if they want to avoid dropping this series at home.
Saturday gives the Royals a shot at turning things around. But let’s be honest, they’ve got to find a way past a Minnesota team that’s playing with a lot of confidence—and maybe a bit of swagger, too.
Here is the source article for this story: Minnesota Twins beat Kansas City Royals 9-4 for third straight win
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