By MATT PIKE
Bobby Witt Jr returned to the lineup, and the Kansas City Royals celebrated Salvador Perez passing George Brett for the franchise lead in career home runs, beating the Minnesota Twins 8-2 to open the series at Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals struck for two runs right out of the gate in the first inning, on the day he was being celebrated Perez driving in the first run with a sacrifice fly scoring Witt Jr, after Witt singled and moved to third on a single by Jac Caglianone. A double by Michael Massey drove in Caglianone for the second run to put Kansas City up 2-0 at the end of the first inning. The Twins cut that lead in half in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly from Alan Roden, scoring Kody Clemens.
A three run fifth inning extended the lead for the Royals. Witt drove in the first run with a two RBI double, driving in Kyle Isbel and Carter Jensen, and moving to third base on a throwing error by Ryan Kreidler. On an infield hit by Caglianone, Witt beat the throw home to score the second run, and Caglianone was safe at first base, and proceeded to steal second base but would be stranded as Perez lined out and Massey grounded out to end the inning with Kansas City up 5-1.
Royals starter Randy Dobnak, who earned the win improving to 2-0, exited after the fifth inning. Dobnak threw five innings and gave up one run on three hits with three walks and one strikeout. In two outings, in less than a week against his former team with the Royals, Dobnak has earned both his wins on the season, throwing 12 innings and giving up one run on seven hits with five strikeouts and four walks.
Josh Bell hit a solo home run off reliever Steven Cruz in the eighth inning for the final run from Minnesota. In the bottom half, Kansas City added the final three runs, two scoring on a double from Starling Marte, bringing home Isaac Collins and Nick Loftin, before Marte scored the final run for the Royals on an RBI single from Isbel.
At the plate, in his first game back after a stint on the injured list, Witt was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. Caglianone was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base. Marte, who pinch hit for John Rave in the eighth inning, was 1-for-1 with a double and two RBIs.
Kansas City and Minnesota continue their series tomorrow. Noah Cameron (5-8, 4.59 ERA, 107K's) will start for the Royals, after pitching eight one hit innings against the Twins in Minnesota, facing recently acquired Dean Kremer (1-4, 6.50 ERA, 38K's) for the Twins. First pitch is at 6:40pm, pregame at 6 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
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