Minnesota Twins vs Kansas City Royals Box Score on Jul 03, 2021

Edward Olivares' first home run of the season capped a four-run fourth inning as the Kansas City Royals earned a 6-3 victory Saturday while sending the visiting Minnesota Twins to their fifth-consecutive defeat.

The Royals, who snapped a nine-game losing streak Friday night, clinched the three-game series.

Kyle Zimmer (4-0), the first of five Royals relievers, picked up the win with a scoreless fifth inning. Scott Barlow picked up his second save of the series and fourth in five chances overall.

Griffin Jax, the first graduate of the Air Force Academy to play in the major leagues, made his first career start for the Twins, doing it on Independence Day weekend. He fell to 1-1 after allowing six runs on eight hits over five innings, following three scoreless innings at the outset.

Royals starter Danny Duffy lasted four innings as he continues to recover from a left forearm flexor strain. He allowed two runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

The Twins' two runs off Duffy came in the fourth inning. Duffy walked Ryan Jeffers leading off before Miguel Sano singled up the middle. Gilberto Celestino hit a sharp ground ball for a force out, but Hanser Alberto's throw to first was wide, allowing Jeffers to score.

With two outs, Andrelton Simmons singled, sending Celestino to third. Celestino scored on an RBI single by Jorge Polanco.

The Royals answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning. Carlos Santana walked leading off and with one out, Alberto reached on a bunt as both runners advanced on a throwing error. Hunter Dozier's two-run double tied the game 2-all.

Dozier was thrown out at home trying to score on Michael A. Taylor's single to right, but Taylor scored on Olivares' home run.

The Royals added two runs in the fifth. Salvador Perez had an RBI double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Dozier to left field.

Trevor Larnach hit a two-out home run in the eighth for the Twins, his sixth of the season.

--Field Level Media