Wacha tosses 7 innings of 4-hit ball, Royals top Twins 2-0 for sweep of closest AL wild-card pursuer

KANSAS CITY, MO – Michael Wacha delivered a stellar performance, pitching seven innings of four-hit baseball, as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Minnesota Twins 2-0 on Sunday. This victory completed a series sweep of their closest competitors in the AL wild-card race.

Wacha (12-7) struck out seven and walked just one batter, earning his 100th career win. His defense played a crucial role, turning two double plays and throwing out a runner attempting to score from first base in the first inning. Kris Bubic took care of the eighth inning for the Royals, and Lucas Erceg earned his 11th save by navigating a leadoff single in the ninth.

Simeon Woods Richardson (5-4) gave up two runs on three hits and two walks before being pulled with one out in the fifth inning. Although Minnesota’s bullpen kept the Royals from scoring further, the Twins’ offense failed to capitalize and remained scoreless.

Following the game, the Twins held a closed-door meeting, and manager Rocco Baldelli issued a terse statement: “It’s an unprofessional series of baseball that we just played and that’s my only comment for the day. I’m not commenting on anything else. I don’t think anything else really has to be said.”

The Royals have now moved 2.5 games ahead of the AL Central-rival Twins for the second wild-card spot.

Minnesota had a chance to gain momentum early in the game, but Jose Miranda, who had singled, was thrown out trying to score on Trevor Larnach’s double. Royce Lewis then struck out to end the inning. The Twins’ only other hits off Wacha came from Christian Vázquez in the third and sixth innings, but both times Wacha managed to get a double play, preventing any runners from advancing past first base.

When the Royals got their chance, they capitalized. MJ Melendez walked to lead off the fifth, and Freddy Fermin and Maikel Garcia followed with singles, loading the bases for Garrett Hampson, who drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to left field. Tommy Pham then walked to reload the bases, and Salvador Perez delivered an 80-foot dribbler down the third-base line for the game’s second run.

**Next Up:**
– **Minnesota:** RHP David Festa (2-5, 4.75) will start a three-game series against the Angels on Monday night.
– **Kansas City:** RHP Brady Singer (9-10, 3.35) will open a three-game series against the Yankees on Monday night in New York.

(Photo courtesy of Twins/MLB)