By MATT PIKE
Brooks Lee hit a home run to start a four-run sixth inning for the Minnesota Twins, helping them to a 5-3 win over the Kansas City Royals at Target Field to even up the four game series.
After a one hour and 15 minute rain delay pushed back the first pitch, Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone hit RBI doubles, driving in Bobby Witt Jr. and Pasquantino respectively, in the first inning to give the Royals a 2-0 lead early in the game. Lee hit an RBI fielder's choice in the third to pull the Twins within one run, before Minnesota took the lead in the sixth with the four run inning.
Lee hit a leadoff solo home run in the sixth inning to tie the game, which was followed by an RBI double by Josh Bell, scoring Kody Clemens who hit a double in the at bat prior to give the Twins the lead. Bell reached home on an error by Caglianone in the outfield, who was trying to throw the ball to third after Orlando Arcia singled up the right field foul line and into the corner extending the lead. And as the wheels continued to fall off in the inning, Arcia scored after back-to-back wild pitches by Royals starter Michael Wacha to give Minnesota a 5-2 lead.
The Royals scored their final run in the ninth inning, when Caglianone scored on Mikael Garcia's groundout. Wacha, who fell to 4-4 on the season, pitched 5.2 innings, giving up eight hits and four earned runs, five overall, while striking out two. At the plate, Caglianone was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Pasquantino was 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while Witt Jr was 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base.
Kansas City and Minnesota continue their series on Saturday. Luinder Avila (1-2, 4.44 ERA, 25K's) makes his second start on the mound for the Royals against Joe Ryan (4-3, 3.20 ERA, 79K's) will start for the Twins. First pitch is at 1:10pm, pregame at 12:30 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
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