The Kansas City Royals' lineup showcased their depth with an impressive display, particularly from the bottom third of the order. For the second game in a row, they delivered, but this time with a bit more flair.
The fireworks began in the second inning when Jac Caglianone smashed a 110.1 mph double to center. Not to be outdone, Collins followed with a 110.9 mph double, bringing Caglianone home.
Kyle Isbel then chipped in with an RBI single, stole second, and scored on a tricky ball hit by Maikel Garcia that slipped off Brooks Lee’s glove, making it three runs in the inning.
The Royals didn't stop there. In the third inning, a popup by Jonathan India, obscured by fog, allowed another run to score.
The fourth inning saw Caglianone, Collins, and Isbel reaching base again, with Garcia adding a sacrifice fly to the tally. The sixth inning was a spectacle, with Kansas City sending 11 batters to the plate amidst the rain.
Walks, hit-by-pitches, errors, and a grand slam from Jonathan India brought in seven more runs, thrilling fans and even rewarding a lucky Sonic Slam winner with $25,000. By the end of it, the Royals were cruising with a 12-1 lead.
Caglianone, Collins, and Isbel were on fire, going 8 for 11 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch, reaching base in all but three of their 14 plate appearances. Isbel capped off the night with a solo home run in the seventh, sealing a dominant performance from the bottom of the order. Every starter reached base, with Carter Jensen joining the action in the eighth.
On the mound, Noah Cameron started strong, firing first-pitch strikes to the first six Minnesota batters. Despite some command issues in the fourth and fifth innings, he finished with a solid line: 5 innings, 4 hits, 1 walk, 1 earned run, and 5 strikeouts, earning the win in his sophomore season debut.
The bullpen had a rocky outing, with Daniel Lynch, Alex Lange, and Brady Falter struggling with control due to wet conditions. Lynch allowed three runs in the seventh, Lange gave up two in the eighth before Cruz steadied the ship, and Falter surrendered three in the ninth. Despite the hiccups, Lucas Erceg came in to close the game, securing the win.
The game featured a flurry of ABS challenges, with 9 out of 11 calls overturned. The Royals went one for two in challenges, but with a comfortable lead, these didn't impact the outcome significantly. It was a test for the new system, which showed a high success rate.
With this victory, the Royals improved to 3-2 on the season and are poised for a sweep against the Twins. However, more rain is forecasted, putting the 1:00 pm start time for the next game in question.