Kansas City Royals vs Minnesota Twins Match Player Stats On Sep 10, 2021

Andrew Benintendi hit two home runs, including a two-run shot in the top of the 11th inning that proved to be the game-winner as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Minnesota Twins 6-4 on Friday night in Minneapolis.

Benintendi lined Juan Minaya's first pitch to open the 11th into the front row of the left-field bleachers for his 15th homer of the season, breaking a 4-4 tie by also driving in designated runner Salvador Perez.

Benintendi finished 4-for-5 with three runs scored and five RBIs, while Nicky Lopez extended his on-base streak to 20 games with two hits, including a double, for Kansas City (64-77).

Ervin Santana (2-2) picked up the win with one inning of scoreless relief, and Greg Holland retired the Twins in order in the bottom of the 11th to notch his eighth save.

Byron Buxton and Josh Donaldson both homered and Andrelton Simmons had two hits to lead Minnesota (62-79). Minaya (2-1) picked up the loss, allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits and two walks over two innings. He struck out two.

Kansas City jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first off Twins starter Griffin Jax on Benintendi's home run deep into the right field bleachers, following Lopez's double and a walk to Perez.

But Minnesota bounced back to take a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the first against Royals starter Daniel Lynch.

Buxton led off with his 12th homer of the season, a 457-foot drive into the restaurant above the batter's eye in dead center. Jorge Polanco followed with a double down the left field line and went to third on a single by Rob Refsnyder. Donaldson then drilled his 22nd home run of the season into the second deck down the left field line to give the Twins a 4-3 lead.

Kansas City tied it 4-4 in the fourth inning when Benintendi led off with a single and came around to score on Michael A. Taylor's two-out double into the gap in left-center.

The Royals loaded the bases in the 10th with pinch-hitter Edward Olivares walking and Lopez beating out an infield dribbler with two outs to send designated runner Taylor to third. But Minaya got out of the jam with a Perez groundout.

--Field Level Media