Twins 11, Royals 3: The stick gets boomed

Remember earlier in the season, when the Twins were smacking around the Orioles, and it felt like this offense was an unstoppable juggernaut?

It’s starting to feel that way again — except this time, that unstoppable juggernaut is mostly Nelson Cruz.

A night after eleven total bases and five RBI, Nelson Cruz slammed ANOTHER three home runs in the victory against the Royals tonight. Just last week, he had a 3-HR game in a monster road series against the White Sox; with only one set of games in between, he’s already done it again.

The first two came in the first two frames of the ballgame. By the end of the second, the Twins had staked Kansas City to a 7-2 lead; C.J. Cron homered in his return to the lineup, and Jorge Polanco added another jack.

Somehow, Royals starter Danny Duffy lasted all the way into the fifth inning, long enough to give up four homers and nine runs. His counterpart, Kyle Gibson, pitched into the seventh and struck out six on 110 pitches.

The Twins would add a pair in both the fifth and sixth (RBI singles from Max Kepler and Cron, and Cruz’s aforementioned third home run.)

A single, homer, and forceout plated the only three tallies for the Kansas City Royals this evening.

The Twins go for the sweep tomorrow, retaining a three-game lead over Cleveland.

STUDS:

DH Nelson Cruz (3-for-5, 3 R, 3 HR, 5 RBI)

1B C.J. Cron (3-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI)

DUDS:

NO DUDS! TWINS WIN!

ROBOT ROLL CALL: