Josh Rojas' pinch-hit single in ninth pushes Royals past Twins

Pinch hitter Josh Rojas ripped a tiebreaking two-run single up the middle in the top of the ninth inning, and the Kansas City Royals held on for an 8-6 win over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday in Minneapolis.

Carter Jensen hit a two-run double for Kansas City in the opener of a four-game series. Michael Massey finished 2-for-4 with a solo home run.

Kody Clemens hit two solo shots to lead Minnesota at the plate. Victor Caratini went 3-for-4 with a double, a homer and two RBIs.

Royals left-hander Matt Strahm (2-1) earned the victory with a scoreless inning of relief. Alex Lange collected his second save with a scoreless ninth.

Twins left-hander Taylor Rogers (1-3) gave up two runs in two-thirds of an inning.

The score was 6-all when Rojas pinch-hit with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth. He fired a single back up the middle to drive in Lane Thomas and Tyler Tolbert.

The score was 2-all heading in the bottom of the third, when Clemens gave Minnesota a 3-2 advantage with a homer to center.

Massey pounced on the first pitch of the fourth to pull the Royals even at 3-all.

The Twins made it 4-3 in the bottom of the frame. Ryan Kreidler belted a two-out triple to center to score Trevor Larnach from first base.

Clemens looped a home run just inside the right field foul pole in the fifth to make it 5-3.

Kansas City scored three runs in the sixth to grab a 6-5 edge.

Jensen began the scoring in the inning when he hit a two-run double down the third base line. Moments later, Bobby Witt Jr. popped up, but shortstop Kreidler collided with second baseman Luke Keaschall, and the ball dropped to the grass and allowed a run to score.

Caratini hit a solo homer to make it 6-all in the bottom of the sixth.

The game included a rain delay of 67 minutes.

--Field Level Media