7 September 2024
KANSAS CITY, MO. — The Twins and Royals are far from having wild card berths sealed up. But with the rest of the American League struggling to gain much ground in recent days, both look to be in good position, even with their recent difficulties.
While a playoff spot may not be on the line this weekend, this series — the last regular-season meeting between the two teams — could figure heavily into playoff positioning. The Twins entered the day with a half-game advantage over the Royals. After the first game of the series, a 5-0 loss for Minnesota at Kauffman Stadium, it now trails both Kansas City and division-leading Cleveland.
In one of their most important games of the season to date, their offense was held completely silent by Royals starter Cole Ragans (11-9) and a trio of relievers. Ragans, who early in the game reached the 200-strikeout mark, was barely touched in his six-inning outing. He allowed just four hits — two in the first inning — and another two more in the fourth.
The latter represented the Twins’ best chance to score, but their hopes were dashed when Kyle Farmer was thrown out at the plate trying to score on an Austin Martin double — the Twins’ last hit of the game — to end the inning.
It took a perfect relay from Kyle Isbel in left to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who aired it out to nab Farmer. While the Royals’ superstar was held hitless in the game, he still made his presence felt, both with the relay throw and on the bases, where Witt beat out a throw on a potential double-play ball. He then came around to score later in the fifth inning on a Hunter Renfroe two-run single off of rookie Zebby Matthews.
Matthews (1-3) lasted five innings in his start and gave up four runs, three of which came with two outs in the inning.
The first run of the game scored after Matthews uncharacteristically walked a batter — No. 9 hitter Isbel — before allowing a double to Tommy Pham. The second scored on a Michael Massey solo home run, which came after a pair of strikeouts to start the inning. Renfroe’s single then seemed to seal the Twins’ fate.
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