The Kansas City Royals held off the Minnesota Twins 6-5 on Sunday, but left Minneapolis with a question about their star shortstop. Bobby Witt Jr. exited in the seventh inning with right knee soreness after going 0 for 4 on the day.
The timing stands out. One day earlier, Witt had driven in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning. Sunday he struck out three times before leaving the game. No update on the severity of the injury was immediately available.
The Royals won the game on the strength of a four-run fifth inning, capped by Starling Marte's three-run homer. It was Marte's first home run in his first season with Kansas City. According to the Associated Press, Maikel Garcia hit a go-ahead single before Marte launched the ball to make it 5-1.
Starting pitcher Noah Cameron was sharp. He allowed just three hits and an unearned run over six innings, striking out seven batters, including all three he faced in the fifth inning. Cameron improved to 3-4 on the season.
The Twins made it close late. Reliever Beck Way was charged with four runs in the ninth inning while recording just one out. Josh Bell's three-run homer cut the Kansas City lead to 6-4, and Victor Caratini's RBI single pulled Minnesota within one. Lucas Erceg then retired Brooks Lee on a fly ball to left with a runner on second to close it out. It was Erceg's 12th save in 18 opportunities.
Twins rookie Connor Prielipp took the loss, going 4 1/3 innings and allowing two runs on four hits in his ninth major league start.
The Royals finished the road trip 5-5 after starting it with three straight losses at Texas. Kansas City opens a home series against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, with Stephen Kolek starting opposite Nathan Eovaldi. The Twins travel to Detroit to face Taj Bradley against Troy Melton in their Tuesday opener.
