(Minneapolis, MN) — The Twins scored seven runs in the bottom of the third inning during an 8-4 win over the Kansas City Royals at Target Field. Byron Buxton started off the scoring in the inning with a three-run home run, while Nick Gordon, Willi Castro, and Christian Vazquez all followed up with run-scoring singles. Sonny Gray improved to 4-and-0 after striking out seven over six innings of one-run ball, and Jhoan Duran earned his sixth save. Minnesota has won six of its last eight games. The Twins are in first place in the AL Central at 17-and-12. They visit the White Sox tomorrow night.
The Twins are losing another starting pitcher. The team is shutting down Tyler Mahle for at least four weeks with an injury in his pitching elbow. Mahle left his Thursday start against the Royals after the fourth inning with the setback. The 28-year-old is 1-and-2 with a 3.16 ERA this season. He’s the second Twins pitcher to head to the injured list in the past week, as the club placed Kenta Maeda on the I.L. over the weekend as well.
