KANSAS CITY, MO (AP) — Whit Merrifield capped a nine-run first inning with a three-run homer and the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 14-5 Friday night for their fifth straight win.
Merrifield started the big burst with a leadoff single and his home run ended the evening for Matt Shoemaker (2-7). He retired just one batter, allowing six hits and two walks.
Kansas City made it 13-0 in the second. All nine Royals in batting order had already scored with no outs in the inning.
Michael A. Taylor drove in three runs for the Royals.
Brad Keller (6-4) got his third straight win and hasn’t allowed more than three runs in an outing since April. He went five innings, giving up two earned runs.
Minnesota lost its fourth in a row.
Jorge Polanco hit his sixth home run of the season into the right field fountains in the Twins fifth. Miguel Sano broke an 0-for-24 with a two-run drive and Nick Gordon hit his first career home run.
Taylor and Salvador Perez had two RBIs apiece in the first inning while Andrew Benintendi and Nicky Lopez each had one.
Carlos Santana added a two-run single in the second.
Kansas City has scored at least five runs in its last seven games.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Minnesota: Kenta Maeda (groin) completed a 20-pitch bullpen session and is scheduled to throw another on Sunday.
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