The Kansas City Royals bullpen was again unable to hold a late-inning lead Thursday night, and the Twins made them pay. Minnesota scored a run in the eighth inning, the game-tying run in the ninth, and the winning run in the tenth inning of a 4-3 win. Kansas City jumped to an early two-run lead, when a first-inning single by Salvador Perez brought home two runs. Minnesota answered with a Josh Willingham solo homer, cutting the Royals lead to 2-1. Billy Butler doubled home a run in the fifth to make the score 3-1, a score that held until the bottom of the eighth.
Royals reliever Greg Holland entered the game with the bases loaded and promptly walked home a run in the eighth, then gave up a game-tying home run to Trevor Plouffe to lead off the bottom of the ninth. Francisley Bueno entered to pitch the tenth and immediately gave up back-to-back doubles, bringing home Twins pinch hitter Alexi Casilla with the game-winning run.
Royals starter Luis Mendoza was spectacular, going 7 innings and giving up just one run on 2 hits. Greg Holland was given his third blown save of the year, and Bueno got the loss. Minnesota reliever Glen Perkins got the win.
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