Miguel Sano’s hustle led Minnesota to a pair of early runs and his RBI double tied the game in the decisive seventh inning, helping the Twins dodge a series sweep by beating the Kansas City Royals 6-5 on Wednesday night.
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The only Twins hitter in history with more home runs than Dozier’s 39 in a single season is Harmon Killebrew, who did it eight different times. After a strikeout, Gore also stole third, but he was stranded when Twins reliever Ryan Pressly forced Cheslor Cuthbert to fly out. KC starter Dillon Gee allowed all three runs on three solo homers over six frames.
It ended up being critical.
Jason Hammel (14-8) was 10-1 with 2.50 ERA in his career against Milwaukee entering the game, but he endured his second-worst outing of the season.
Kintzler recorded his 14th save of the season.
NATIONALS 6, BRAVES 4 Trea Turner and Chris Heisey each homered during a five-run third inning, Max Scherzer pitched seven strong innings for his 16th victory and Washington beat Atlanta.
He started the day off with a lead-off home run against Royals’ starter Ian Kennedy in the first inning.
Robbie Grossman homered and had three hits to pace the Twins’ offense. But the right-hander settled in after that and allowed just two hits over the final four innings before yielding to the bullpen. Kansas City SS Alcides Escobar is 17-for-47 with 11 RBIs during a 12-game hitting streak. 3.
Drew Butera was catching for the series finale against the Twins. He stayed in the game and got a two-run single in a four-run eighth for the NL Central leaders. Later in the inning, Merrifield singled to left, driving in Morales to give the Royals the lead.
ANGELS 10, ATHLETICS 7 Kole Calhoun hit a solo home run in the second inning, Albert Pujols had a two-run double in the fourth and Los Angeles held off Oakland. He’s making $3 million this season.
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He was charged with nine runs (eight earned) on 13 hits and two walks with five strikeouts, two wild pitches and a hit batter over 5 2/3 innings. Perez had a more extensive X-ray done Wednesday and it confirmed no fracture. Molitor said Duffey would return to the starting rotation on Friday against Cleveland. Twins 3B Trevor Plouffe was diagnosed with a strained intercostal and oblique on his left side. Eleven of those hits came in five innings against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, but Santana managed to limit the damage to two runs and escape with a win.
