Bobby Witt Jr. returns from back injury and leads Royals to 8-2 win over Twins

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. had three hits and two RBIs in his return to the lineup Tuesday night, leading the Kansas City Royals to an 8-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

Witt, who missed two weeks with back tightness, went 3 for 5 with a two-run double and scored twice. Randy Dobnak (2-0) allowed one run and three hits in five innings against his former team to help the Royals stop a four-game losing streak.

Josh Bell homered late for the Twins, who have lost three in a row. They remained a game behind Cleveland for the final American League playoff spot.

Royce Lewis went 4 for 4 and is batting .382 (13 for 34) in his last nine games.

Minnesota starter Joe Ryan (6-8) gave up five runs — four earned — and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Witt hit a single in his first at-bat and Jac Caglianone followed with another. Salvador Perez, honored before the game for becoming the franchise’s home run leader, pushed the first run across with a sacrifice fly. Michael Massey added an RBI double to make it 2-0 in the first.

Alan Roden had a bases-loaded sacrifice fly for the Twins in the fourth, but Witt delivered a two-run double in the fifth and scored on Caglianone’s groundout to make it 5-1.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

The Warm-Up

Winnipeg Jets Game Days

On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.

Sign up for The Warm-Up

Sign Up

I consent to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies.

I consent to CASL agreement.

Pinch-hitter Starling Marte tacked on a two-run double in the eighth and scored on a single by Kyle Isbel.

Up next

Twins newcomer Dean Kremer (1-4, 6.50 ERA) pitches against Royals LHP Noah Cameron (5-8, 4.59) on Wednesday.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb