Walk off home run gives Twins series win over Royals

By MATT PIKE

In his second start with the Kansas City Royals, Ryan Bergert put another strong performance together, but a late bullpen collapse and defensive miscues gave the Minnesota Twins a walk off 5-3 win to steal the series at Target Field on Sunday afternoon. 

The Royals took the lead in the first inning, Adam Frazier delivering the first of his four hits on the day, an RBI single driving in Mike Yastrzemski after his leadoff walk in the frame.  With runners on the corner and two outs, Twins starter José Ureña escaped the danger forcing Jonathan India to ground into a force out, throwing Salvador Perez out at second base. 

In the third inning, Bergert made his lone mistake of the game giving up the lead to Minnesota as a former Royals prospect gave the Twins the lead with a two run home run, Ryan Fitzgerald hitting the ball over the right field wall and scoring Mickey Gasper after his leadoff walk for a 2-1 lead. 

Following the home run, Bergert retired 10 of the next 12 batters he faced, before being replaced by Angel Zerpa who got the final out in the sixth inning.  In the seventh inning, Kansas City got the lead back for Zerpa, Vinnie Pasquantino hitting a two run home run and driving in Maikel Garcia with two outs after Garcia hit a single, giving the Royals a 3-2 lead. 

After a scoreless seventh inning from Zerpa, Lucas Erceg came to the mound in the eighth, getting the first out on just one pitch, but in the next at bat Austin Martin hit a fly ball to left field and John Rave attempting to make a sliding catch missed the ball, letting it roll to the warning track and allowing Martin to hit a triple.  Erceg go the next out on four pitches, Kody Clemens flying out to Rave, but the hot bat of Ryan Jeffers tied up the game with two outs hitting an RBI single to left field, scoring Martin for the 3-3 tie. 

The score held that way and the game headed into extra innings, both teams getting through the 10th scoreless, in the 11th Kansas City brought on closer Carlos Estévez, who walked Clemens and got a double play for two immediate outs, but against rookie Luke Keaschall gave up the walk off home run, Keaschall’s second home run of the season. 

Estévez fell to 4-4 with the loss.  At the plate, Frazier was 4-for-5 with an RBI.  Garcia was 3-for-4 with a double, two walks, and a run scored, while Pasquantino was 1-for-5 with the home run and two RBIs. 

Kansas City returns to Kauffman Stadium next to host Washington.  Bailey Falter (7-6, 4.14 ERA) takes the mound for his second Royals start hoping for better luck as he takes on Cade Cavalli (0-0, 0.00 ERA) for the Nationals in just his second start of the season.  First pitch is at 6:40pm with pregame coverage beginning at 6 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM). 

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.