In a crazy series finale that saw both teams combine for 18 runs on 22 hits, the Minnesota Twins emerged with a 10-8 victory to take their four-game series with the Kansas City Royals.
After what looked like a pitcher's duel through five innings with a 1-1 tie on the scoreboard, the Royals proceeded to explode for four runs to open the sixth inning, forcing Minnesota starter Francisco Liriano from the mound in the process. Not to be outdone, the Twins more than answered in the bottom half of the frame, bombing Kansas City starter Bruce Chen for five runs themselves to forcing him from the game as well.
Drew Butera's three-run homer off the Royals' Aaron Crow made it a 10-5 game in favor of the Twins in the eighth, as part-time closer-by-committee member Glen Perkins stepped on the mound with a five-run lead in the final inning trying to protect the victory. But on a 92-degree day where the baseball was quite literally flying everywhere at Target Field, it was only natural that Perkins would quickly implode for three runs on four hits before shutting the door.
Winners of three straight games, Sunday's 10-run outing represented the seventh time the Twins have reached double digits in the scoring column this season. And with a dangerous four-game series at Comerica Park against the Detroit Tigers looming large, manager Ron Gardenhire will need to hope that his players can continue to swing a hot bat.
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