Late homers help Twins end skid vs. Royals

Minnesota belts three home runs in the 9th to defeat Kansas City 5-1

Apr. 2, 2026 at 10:22pm

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An abstract expressionist painting in vibrant neon colors, with dynamic brushstrokes and fragmented forms representing the excitement and intensity of a baseball game.A burst of neon-tinged energy captures the late-inning heroics that propelled the Twins to victory over their division rivals.Kansas City Today

The Minnesota Twins defeated the Kansas City Royals 5-1 on Thursday, snapping a three-game losing streak. Twins starter Taj Bradley threw six scoreless innings, and Minnesota hit three solo home runs in the 9th inning to pull away late.

Why it matters

The win helps the Twins avoid being swept in the three-game series against their AL Central division rival. Minnesota is looking to bounce back after a slow start to the season, while the Royals had been on a modest three-game winning streak before Thursday's loss.

The details

Twins starter Taj Bradley (1-0) pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just five hits and striking out three. The Twins took an early 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning on an error by Royals catcher Salvador Perez. Minnesota's bullpen held the lead, with Kody Funderburk and Justin Topa combining for three scoreless innings. In the 9th, Matt Wallner, Kody Clemens, and Josh Bell all hit solo home runs off Royals reliever Steven Cruz to extend the Twins' lead to 5-1.

  • The game was played on Thursday, April 2, 2026.

The players

Taj Bradley

The Minnesota Twins starting pitcher, who threw six scoreless innings and earned the win.

Matt Wallner

A Minnesota Twins outfielder who hit a solo home run in the 9th inning.

Kody Clemens

A Minnesota Twins infielder who hit a solo home run in the 9th inning.

Josh Bell

A Minnesota Twins designated hitter who hit a solo home run in the 9th inning.

Cole Ragans

The Kansas City Royals starting pitcher, who suffered the loss despite not allowing an earned run.

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What they’re saying

“We needed a win like this to get us back on track. The guys came up big with those late homers to seal the deal.”

— Rocco Baldelli, Minnesota Twins Manager

What’s next

The Twins will look to build on this win as they continue their road trip, facing the Chicago White Sox in a three-game series starting on Friday. The Royals will try to bounce back at home against the Detroit Tigers over the weekend.

The takeaway

This victory was an important one for the Twins, who had lost three straight games before Thursday. The late-inning power display showed the team's offensive potential, and the strong pitching performance by Taj Bradley was a positive sign for Minnesota's starting rotation.