Bobby Witt Jr. had three doubles, two RBIs and a run, as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Minnesota Twins 7-3 on Saturday afternoon at Minneapolis.
Witt, who finished a double shy of the cycle with three RBIs on Friday night in his first career three-hit game, followed with the Royals’ first three-double game since 2018.
Royals starter Brady Singer (2-0) gave up three runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings with no walks. His eight strikeouts were one shy of his career high, set two starts ago. In three starts since returning to the major leagues, he’s gone 19 2/3 innings with three runs, three walks and 20 strikeouts.
Twins starter Chris Archer (0-2) lasted four innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits with no walks and one strikeout.
Witt started his hit barrage with an RBI double in the first, scoring Andrew Benintendi.
The Twins answered in the second. Trevor Larnach hit a home run just beyond the reach of Whit Merrifield in center, his second. It was the first run Singer allowed since returning from Triple-A Omaha.
Benintendi and Witt combined for the Royals’ second run in the third. Benintendi dropped a two-out single into short center and Witt drove him home with another double.
The Royals added three runs in the fourth for a 5-1 advantage. Hunter Dozier singled and went to second on a wild pitch with two outs. Emmanuel Rivera blooped a single to right, scoring Dozier. Nicky Lopez reached on an error and Merrifield hit a two-run double off the wall.
The Twins got two runs in the sixth off Singer. Luis Arraez and Kyle Garlick had singles, ending Singer’s day. Gabe Speier walked to load the bases and pinch hitter Ryan Jeffers hit a two-run single off Gabe Speier.
The Royals came back with two in the seventh on a two-out, two-run single by Dozier, scoring Witt and Salvador Perez, who was back in the lineup after spending time on the injured list with a thumb injury.
The Twins loaded the bases in the ninth, but Garlick’s drive to the wall in center was caught by Merrifield to end the game.
–Field Level Media