Maldonado leads charge as Royals rally over Twins

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June 17, 2019 - 9:31 AM

Billy Hamilton (6) of the Kansas City Royals slides in safely to third base against the Minnesota Twins during the second inning on Sunday at the Target Field in Minneapolis, Mint. HANNAH FOSLEIN/GETTY IMAGES/TNS

Martín Maldonado celebrated Father’s Day by wearing a blue necktie on his chest protector and had three hits to lift the Kansas City Royals over the Minnesota Twins 8-6 on Sunday.

Maldonado had several names scribbled on the tie, along with “Happy Father’s Day.” Pittsburgh Pirates backstop Elias Diaz wore the same tie in a game against Atlanta, which appeared to be provided by equipment manufacturer All-Star.

Maldonado drove in two, one with a single during a three-run second inning and another with a double in the eighth.

Jorge López (1-6) pitched 2 1/3 innings in relief, giving up four hits, including a solo homer by Nelson Cruz in the seventh. Ian Kennedy allowed an RBI double by Max Kepler but struck out Cruz with two runners on to record his seventh save in nine chances. Cruz believed he had checked his swing on the strikeout.

Jorge Bonifacio added two hits and two RBIs for the Royals, who had lost three of four. Kansas City was tied or leading in the eighth inning in three of the previous four matchups against the Twins this season but had lost all four games before hanging on Sunday.

Martín Pérez (7-3) surrendered five runs — four earned — in 6 2/3 innings for Minnesota. Kepler had four hits and Miguel Sanó homered, but the Twins left the bases loaded three times and were 4 of 18 with runners in scoring position.

Cruz had a two-run double in the eighth, but Wily Peralta entered and retired three in a row to strand two runners.

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