The Royals lost their 103rd game of the season with a 3-1 defeat to the Twins. Starting pitcher Runelvys Hernandez gave up two runs in the bottom of the first to put the Royals in an early hole. Joe Mauer drove in the first run of the game with a single, to score Nick Punto. Later, Lew Ford drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

It remained 2-0 until Matt Diaz hit his first home run off Twins starter Johan Santana to cut the Minnesota lead to one run.

Luis Rodriquez, who scored on Ford’s sacrifice, drove in a run with a sacrifice of his own in the bottom half of the seventh to give the Twins a 3-1 lead.

Hernandez (8-13) got the loss by allowing five hits and four walks with now strikeouts. Santana (15-7) lowered his ERA to 2.92, giving up six hits off two walks and six strikeouts.