Twins use six-run second inning to take down Royals

But Byron Buxton exited after the fifth inning due to right hip discomfort.

Minnesota Twins third base Royce Lewis (23) hits a home run against the Kansas City Royals in the second inning at Target Field in Minneapolis on Aug. 12, 2024. / Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Twins starter Pablo Lopez changed his undershirt, tucked in his jersey and was getting ready to go back out for the third inning after his team got its second out of the second inning of Monday night's series opener against the Kansas City Royals at Target Field in Minneapolis.

But Carlos Santana drew a two-out walk, kicking off a long Twins rally that resulted in six runs and powered the team to an 8-3 victory over the Royals in front of an announced crowd of 22,173.

"Then I had to stand up and get loose again," Lopez said. "That's the kind of offense we have. We can make stuff happen with two outs. We can make stuff happen when the other team doesn't make a play or they give us a free pass. ... It was fun to watch from the dugout."

After Santana drew the two-out walk, Ryan Jeffers and Austin Martin followed up with back-to-back singles off Royals starter Brady Singer. Martin's single brought home Santana and cut the Twins' deficit to 2-1. Willi Castro then hit a 386-foot, three-run homer — his ninth home run of the season, tying a career high — to give Minnesota a 4-2 advantage.

WILLI! WAY BACK! pic.twitter.com/6tOHHWVFMG

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 13, 2024

"I think Willi Castro is the MVP of this team this year," said Royce Lewis, who hit a 389-foot, two-run homer of his own later in the inning to put the Twins (66-52) up 6-2. "... I'm proud he hit that homer (Monday). I was wishing it to go out, I was hoping it would go. It was awesome and after that it made my life easier, I can get comfortable in the box, so I love that."

Homering so fast we can't keep up 😅 pic.twitter.com/hxVGcDuThe

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 13, 2024

Lewis was 2 for 4 overall with the homer, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Bobby Witt Jr. gave the Royals (65-54) an early 1-0 lead in the first inning with a 401-foot solo homer.

Kyle Isbel's single brought in Maikel Garcia, who reached on a fielder's choice, doubling their lead.

Adam Frazier’s RBI single in the sixth inning was the last run Kansas City got off Lopez, who gave up six hits and three runs — two earned — in all while fanning five across six innings of work. 

Lopez improved to 11-8 on the season with the victory.

Singer allowed eight hits and the six runs while fanning nine across five innings in the loss.

Griffin Jax pitched a scoreless seventh inning to preserve the Twins’ three-run advantage, and Minnesota got a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single from Matt Wallner and a sacrifice fly from Manny Margot that extended their lead to 8-3. 

Trevor Richards pitched a scoreless eighth inning while fanning a pair, and Scott Blewett sent the Royals down in order in the ninth inning to close out the Twins victory.

Buxton was replaced in center field by Margot to start the sixth inning. It was later revealed that his exit from the game was due to right hip discomfort. He's considered day to day.

The Twins and Royals meet for the second of their three-game series at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday.