Royals Edge Twins 2-1, Snap Winning Streak

In a tightly contested matchup, Maikel Garcia delivered a clutch two-out RBI single in the 10th inning, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday. This win prevented the Royals from being swept in the series.

Garcia's decisive hit came off a 0-2 pitch from Jhoan Duran (3-1), sending the ball into left field and allowing automatic runner Nick Loftin to score. Prior to Garcia's at-bat, Michael Massey struck out swinging, and Freddy Fermin grounded out to third base.

Carlos Estévez (2-0) showcased his skills by retiring all four batters he faced, including two via strikeouts, securing the win for Kansas City. Taylor Clarke then stepped in to close the game, earning his first save of the season.

Kris Bubic was a standout for the Royals, striking out nine batters over seven impressive innings. He allowed only two hits and issued two walks, further solidifying his breakout season.

For Minnesota, Ryan Jeffers initiated the scoring with a leadoff double in the first inning, followed by Ty France's RBI single that put the Twins ahead early.

Bubic's performance has been remarkable; he boasts a 3-1 record with a 1.22 ERA over his last seven starts. His overall ERA of 1.45 in 11 starts this season ranks second among qualified pitchers, just behind Max Fried of the Yankees at 1.29.

On the other side, Bailey Ober pitched effectively for Minnesota, allowing one run and seven hits across 6 2/3 innings.

This loss marked only the third defeat for the Twins in their last 19 games, a testament to their recent strong performance.

Fermin's tying double came on an 0-2 pitch from Ober, showcasing his ability to capitalize under pressure.

The Twins had entered Sunday’s game riding high with walk-off victories in three consecutive games and four of their last five home contests.

Looking ahead, Royals right-hander Michael Lorenzen (3-5, 3.77 ERA) is set to start against visiting Cincinnati on Monday, while Nick Martinez (2-5, 3.43 ERA) will take the mound for the Reds.

Meanwhile, Twins right-hander Chris Paddack (2-4, 3.98 ERA) is scheduled to pitch on Monday at Tampa Bay as part of a challenging 10-game road trip.