MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Byron Buxton hit a three-run homer as part of a seven-run third inning, Sonny Gray kept rolling with six strong innings and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 8-4 on Sunday.
Gray (4-0) allowed one run on five hits while striking out seven batters. Gray has given up just three runs in 35 innings this season and saw his MLB-best ERA rise to 0.77 after the outing.
Minnesota won three of the four games against Kansas City and has won six of eight.
Buxton homered for the second straight game, making it four in his past five games. The Twins homered in 13 straight games, hitting 22 over that span.
Brady Singer (2-3) lasted just 2 2/3 innings for the Royals, surrendering eight runs on five hits and three walks.
Vinnie Pasquantino had three hits for Kansas City, including a two-run single in the ninth inning before Jhoan Duran entered with two outs and recorded his sixth save.
The Royals’ 21 losses in April tie the club record for losses in any calendar month.
Buxton doubled and scored on a sacrifice bunt by Nick Gordon in the second inning before launching his seventh homer of the season to the third deck in left field in the third.
Gordon, Willi Castro and Christian Vázquez followed with consecutive run-scoring singles.
