Aug 07, 2026

Royals fall in finale to Twins 4-3 as bullpen lets game slip away

Posted Aug 07, 2026 3:00 AM

By MATT PIKE

Brooks Lee hit a two-run single in the eighth inning and lifted the Minnesota Twins to a 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium to again help the Twins avoid being swept by the Royals for the second time in less than a week.

Minnesota trailed 3-1 in the eighth inning when the comeback happened.  Jac Caglianone put the Royals up 2-0 in the third inning on a two run single, driving in Carter Jensen and Bobby Witt Jr.  The Twins cut the lead in half in the fifth inning when Royce Lewis hit a solo home run, but Kansas City got the run back in the sixth on an RBI single by Salvador Perez scoring Witt Jr.  Then in the eighth, Josh Bell hit a one-out RBI single against Aaron Bummer, driving in Luke Keaschall before Nate Pearson entered and hit Lewis with a pitch to load the bases, allowing Lee to follow with the two RBI single scoring Ryan Jeffers and Alex Jackson.

Bummer took the loss, falling to 1-2 on the season, suffering his first loss since joining the Royals, getting one out and giving up three runs on two hits with one walk.  At the plate, Witt Jr was 3-for-4 with a double and a stolen base, scoring two runs.  Caglianone was 1-for-4 with two RBIs.  Jensen, Perez, and Josh Rojas had the other three Royals hits.  

Kansas City will host the Chicago Cubs at Kauffman Stadium tomorrow.  Daniel Lynch (4-2, 1.96 ERA, 35K's) is set to start for the Royals while the Cubs have not announced a starter.  First pitch is at 7:10pm, pregame at 6:30 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.