Twins Defeat Royals 5-1 in Series Finale

Minnesota homers 3 times in 9th to break open close game

Apr. 3, 2026 at 4:45pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball game, with players and the field reduced to abstract shapes and colors, conveying the dynamic energy of the game.A cubist interpretation of the Twins' late-inning power surge that sealed their victory over the Royals.Kansas City Today

The Minnesota Twins defeated the Kansas City Royals 5-1 on Thursday, avoiding a series sweep. Twins pitcher Taj Bradley pitched 6 innings of 5-hit ball, and Minnesota hit 3 home runs in the 9th inning to pull away late in the game.

Why it matters

The Royals were looking to complete a 3-game sweep of the Twins, but Minnesota's late offensive outburst prevented that. The loss drops the Royals to 15-12 on the season, while the Twins improve to 17-10 and remain in contention in the AL Central.

The details

Taj Bradley pitched 6 strong innings for the Twins, allowing 5 hits and 1 run. The game was close until the 9th inning, when Minnesota hit 3 home runs to pull away. The Royals were unable to mount a comeback in the late innings.

  • The game was played on Thursday, April 3, 2026.

The players

Taj Bradley

The starting pitcher for the Minnesota Twins, who pitched 6 innings of 5-hit ball.

Kansas City Royals

The home team, who were looking to complete a 3-game sweep of the Twins.

Minnesota Twins

The visiting team, who avoided the series sweep with their 5-1 victory.

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What’s next

The Royals will host the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, with Michael Wacha getting the start for Kansas City. The Cardinals, who had the day off on Thursday, will travel to Detroit to face the Tigers, with Michael McGreevy on the mound for St. Louis.

The takeaway

This loss prevents the Royals from completing a sweep of the Twins, but they remain in contention in the AL Central. The Twins, meanwhile, bounce back with a strong offensive performance to avoid the sweep and stay near the top of the division.