Twins 4, Royals 3
Jim Thome’s 596th career home run - a three-run blast in the sixth inning - propelled the Minnesota Twins to a 4-3 victory over the visiting Kansas City Royals on Sunday.
Joe Mauer added an RBI single among two hits and Alexi Casilla chipped in two hits for the Twins, who took three of four from the Royals. Minnesota will find out a lot about their playoff hopes this week when they welcome the Cleveland Indians and the Detroit Tigers to Target Field for four games apiece.
After a mound visit, Felipe Paulino (1-7) left a 3-2 slider over the middle of the plate and Thome clubbed the longest home run in the young history of Target Field, sending it 490 feet out to right-center field. Thome has the three longest blasts at Target Field and six of the top eight.
Brian Duensing (7-7) allowed a two-run blast to Royals outfielder Jeff Francoeur in the bottom of the seventh to let Kansas City back into it but Alex Burnett came on to limit the damage.
Joe Nathan worked a scoreless ninth for his second save in as many days since being promoted back to the closer’s role. He has five saves on the season.