MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Willians Astudillo hit a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning that gave the Minnesota Twins a 3-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.
Max Kepler doubled off Jason Hammel (2-13) with two outs in the Twins ninth. Astudillo then hit a drive deep to left field for his third home run of the season.
Trevor Hildenberger (4-3) got two outs to pick up the win.
Adalberto Mondesi homered for the Royals, who were held to three hits on the day.
A day after Kansas City rookie Jorge Lopez took a perfect game into the ninth, the Twins ended the suspense early with a run in the second inning. Robbie Grossman led off with a double and scored on Ehire Adrianza’s single.
Royals starter Ian Kennedy made his first appearance after missing two months with a strained oblique. He ended up throwing 93 pitches over six innings, allowing one run on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
Minnesota starter Chase De Jong made his Twins debut with four scoreless innings, walking four and striking out five. He arrived from Seattle in a trade for reliever Zach Duke on July 30.
Zack Littell followed De Jong for the Twins and gave up Mondesi’s tying home run in the sixth but was otherwise sharp, allowing just two runners in 3 1/3 innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Twins: 3B Miguel Sano missed his fourth straight game with a lower left leg contusion.
UP NEXT
Royals: RHP Jakob Junis (8-12, 4.32 ERA) takes the mound on Monday night as the Royals open a three-game series at home against the White Sox. Lucas Giolito (10-10, 5.85) will start for Chicago.
Twins: RHP Kyle Gibson (7-12, 3.74) will start for the Twins as they host the Yankees for the opener of a three-game series on Monday. New York will counter with LHP J.A. Happ (14-6, 3.90).
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