Lorenzo Cain slides past Kurt Suzuki with the tying run in the eighth inning. (photo/MLB)
The Royals held in check again until the late innings, blew the game wide open with six runs in the eighth for a 6-1 win over the Twins. Combined with the Yankees knocking out David Price with an 8-4 win over the Tigers, the Royals have a 2.5 game cushion in the Central Division.
Raul Ibanez led off the rally with a blooper to right, and Mike Moustakas beat out an infield hit with a dive to first base. Two batters later, Dyson’s bunt allowed pinch runner Lorenzo Cain to score tying the game 1-1.
Nori Aoki followed with a single to left field to give the Royals the lead, and Butler and Perez added four more runs with a single and triple.
Wade Davis (8-2) pitched a perfect eighth for the win. The Royals have won 11 of their last 13 at home.
Liam Hendriks made his first start in the majors in nearly two months after coming over from Toronto in a trade. He retired the first 14 batters he faced, and crusing until Kennys Vargas singled with one out in the seventh.
Oswaldo Arcia followed with a double off the wall to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead.