Royals 3, Twins 1
MINNEAPOLIS -- A two-run rally in the eighth inning lifted the Kansas City Royals to a 3-1 win over the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Friday night.
The loss is a potentially crippling blow for the Twins' postseason hopes; Minnesota entered the night one-game behind the Houston Astros for the second wild card spot in the American League.
The victory kept Kansas City tied with the Toronto Blue Jays for the best record in the American League and in position for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Blue Jays won 8-4 over the Tampa Bay Rays earlier in the night on Friday.
Royals right-hander Chris Young threw a gem, allowing just four hits and one run through 6 1/3 innings of work. He struck out five and walked two but did not figure into the decision.
After allowing one run on three hits in the second inning, Young retired 15 of the next 16 batters he faced into the seventh, leaving after a one-out walk.
Royals right-hander Louis Coleman entered and promptly got Twins catcher Kurt Suzuki to bounce into a 1-6-3 double play to end the inning.
Coleman threw just four pitches but earned his first win in just his fourth appearance in the majors this season.
Twins right-hander Ervin Santana matched Young into the eighth.
With the game tied 1-1, Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar singled to lead off the eighth inning, ending Santana's night after 110 pitches.
Glen Perkins entered and served up a double to Royals designated hitter Ben Zobrist on the first pitch, allowing Escobar to score. Third baseman Mike Moustakas singled sharply to right two batters later and a fielding error by Torii Hunter allowed Zobrist to score, making it a 3-1 game.
A pair of walks loaded the bases with one out, but right-hander Trevor May got a strike out and a fly out to limit the damage to just two.
Minnesota led off their bottom half of the eighth with a single, but second baseman Brian Dozier grounded into a 1-6-3 double play of his own against Royals righty Ryan Madson. First baseman Joe Mauer singled but designated hitter Miguel Sano went down swinging.
Wade Davis worked the ninth inning for his 16th save.
The Twins scored first, getting a leadoff single from left fielder Eddie Rosario to start the second inning. After advancing into scoring position on a wild pitch, he scored two batters later on a single up the middle by center fielder Aaron Hicks.
Kansas City fought back an inning later, getting a leadoff double by center fielder Jarrod Dyson. With one out, first baseman Eric Hosmer bounced one to first baseman Joe Mauer, who got the out at second. But the relay throw sailed out of play, allowing Dyson to cruise home with the tying run.
NOTES: Royals OF Lorenzo Cain did not play on Friday. Cain is resting his right knee after he fouled a ball off of it on Wednesday night. ... Royals DH Kendrys Morales was out of the lineup as he nurses a sore left quad. ... Royals C Salvador Perez received a night off on Friday because the time of Saturday's game was moved from 6 p.m. to noon. Manager Ned Yost said he expects Perez to be in the lineup for both games this weekend. ... Royals RHP Greg Holland's Tommy John surgery was performed without issue on Friday in Los Angeles. Holland could miss the entire 2016 season. ... The Twins still have not announced a starting pitcher for the regular season finale on Sunday. ... The Royals and Twins will play the second game of a three-game series at Target Field on Saturday afternoon. Kansas City RHP Yordano Ventura (12-8, 4.20 ERA) will oppose Minnesota LHP Tommy Milone (9-5, 4.04 ERA).