Billy Butler and Salvador Perez each knocked in two runs during a six-run eighth inning as the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins, 6-1, in the second test of a three-game series.
Minnesota starter Phil Hughes (14-9) shut down the Royals for seven innings but imploded in the eighth. Raul Ibanez led off with a single and was replaced on the basepaths by Lorenzo Cain, who stole second. Mike Moustakas then reached on an infield single to put men on the corners.
After Christian Colon popped out, Jarrod Dyson put down a perfect bunt to plate Cain and tie the game at 1-1. Nori Aoki followed with an RBI single to left-center field, and Alcides Escobar's infield single put men on the corners before Brian Duensing came in from the bullpen and walked Alex Gordon.
Casey Fien took over on the mound and gave up a two-run single to Butler. Perez added a two-run triple to left-center field.
The six-run inning made a winner out of Wade Davis (8-2), who tossed a perfect eighth. Liam Hendriks was sensational in his Kansas City debut, allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts over seven innings.
[SportsNetwork.com]
