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Twins rally from six-run deficit to sweep Royals

May 22, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Minnesota Twins designated hitter Kyle Garlick (30) hits a two-run home run against the Kansas City Royals in the eighth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Gio Urshela delivered a pinch-hit, run-scoring single in the ninth inning and the visiting Minnesota Twins scored seven runs in the final two innings to complete a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals with a 7-6 victory on Sunday afternoon.

Kansas City led 6-0 before Minnesota battled back with five runs in the eighth. The Twins tied the game on Gary Sanchez’s sacrifice fly in the ninth and capped the comeback when Max Kepler scored from third on Urshela’s two-out single off Josh Staumont (1-1).

Reliever Tyler Duffey (2-2) pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the win and Jhoan Duran retired the Royals in order in the ninth for his third save.

Kyle Garlick belted a two-run home run and Luis Arraez had three hits for Minnesota, which has won four straight and six of its last seven.

Before the late-inning collapse, the Royals were firmly in control behind starter Brady Singer. The right-hander pitched seven shutout innings, allowing four hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Carlos Santana hit a bases-clearing double during a five-run sixth inning for Kansas City, which has lost four straight. Andrew Benintendi went 3-for-4 with an RBI and reached base four times.

The Royals took an early lead in the third against Bailey Ober when Benintendi’s one-out single scored Nicky Lopez, who singled to begin the inning.

Ober returned from the injured list and yielded one run on three hits over five innings in his first start since April 28. He walked one and struck out four.

The Royals extended their lead in the sixth inning, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring five runs.

Reliever Yennier Cano allowed the first two batters of the inning to reach base safely before Hunter Dozier delivered a run-scoring double to left field.

After Emmanuel Rivera drew a one-out walk to load the bases, Santana cleared the bases with a double to the right-center field gap. Kyle Isbel followed with a run-scoring single to cap the rally.

Minnesota erupted for five runs in the eighth, when they sent 11 batters to the plate. Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler began the rally with consecutive RBI singles off Taylor Clarke.

After Scott Barlow replaced Clarke with no outs, Polanco scored on Sanchez’s sacrifice fly and Garlick blasted a two-out, two-run homer to left field.

The Twins then loaded the bases against Barlow before Staumont struck out Arraez looking on a 3-2 curveball.

–Field Level Media

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