Bobby Witt Jr. returns to lead Royals past Twins

Field Level Media|published: Tue 4th August, 23:12 2026

Aug 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals first baseman Jac Caglianone (14) hits a single during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Bobby Witt Jr. returned from the injured list with three hits and two RBIs, and Randy Dobnak continued his Kansas City success by allowing one run over five innings, as the Royals beat the visiting Minnesota Twins 8-2 on Tuesday night.

Out since July 20 with low-back tightness, Witt didn't miss a beat, highlighted by his two-RBI double during a three-run fifth inning for the Royals, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Jac Caglianone and Kyle Isbel each posted two hits with an RBI and Starling Marte added a two-run double in the eighth, as Kansas City improved to 7-4 against the postseason-contending Twins in 2026.

Meanwhile, ex-Twin Dobnak (2-0) allowed three hits and three walks, but only a fourth-inning run. In six outings for the Royals, including four starts, since making his 2026 debut, the right-hander owns a 1.16 ERA. His two wins have come in consecutive starts versus Minnesota.

Twins ace Joe Ryan (6-8) yielded five runs, four earned, plus seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. He's yielded 16 earned runs over 15 1/3 innings while losing three straight starts.

Royce Lewis had four hits and Josh Bell clubbed an eighth-inning homer for Minnesota, which has lost three in a row.

Kansas City wasted no time getting to Ryan in the first. Witt delivered a one-out hit, raced to third on Caglianone's single to right and scored on Salvador Perez's sacrifice fly. Caglianone then scored from first base on Michael Massey's double into left-center field.

After stranding a runner on third base in the second and third innings, Minnesota loaded the bases with one out in the fourth. However, all the Twins managed was Alan Roden's sacrifice fly that ended Dobnak's scoreless streak at 16 2/3 innings.

Kansas City, though, added on in the fifth. Isbel delivered a one-out single, then Carter Jensen walked and both scored on Witt's double. Witt reached third on the play via shortstop Ryan Kreidler's throwing error and later scored on Caglianone's ground ball to first base for a 5-1 lead.

--Field Level Media

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