Royals' Victory over Twins with Witt's Home Run
- Bobby Witt Jr. hit a home run on a shoulder-high pitch to lead the Royals to a 4-1 victory over the Twins.
- Paul DeJong's performance, falling a triple short of a cycle, also contributed to the win, preventing a series sweep.
- The Kansas City Royals avoided defeat against the Minnesota Twins in a thrilling baseball match.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Kansas City Royals secured a 4-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday, preventing a series sweep. Bobby Witt Jr. showcased his power by hitting a home run on a pitch outside the strike zone, marking his 24th of the season. The impressive shot, which traveled into the left-center bullpen, was recorded at 4.07 feet above the ground, the highest home run hit by a Royals player since the introduction of pitch tracking in 2008. Witt continues to lead the majors with a .349 batting average. Paul DeJong also made headlines, finishing just a triple shy of the cycle and hitting his 20th home run, a milestone he last achieved in 2019 while with St. Louis. The Royals' pitching was strong, with their All-Star starter retiring 13 of the first 15 batters faced, mixing a variety of pitches effectively. Lucas Erceg closed the game with a solid performance, earning his fifth save of the season. With this win, the Royals improved to 66-55, positioning themselves for the third AL wild card berth, while the Twins, now at 67-53, remain in contention for the second wild card spot. Despite the loss, the Twins have had the upper hand in their season series against Kansas City, leading 3-7. In injury news, Royals infielder Michael Massey missed the game due to back tightness, while Twins manager Rocco Baldelli indicated that outfielder Byron Buxton would be sidelined for a short period due to hip discomfort. The Royals are set to face the Cincinnati Reds in their next series.