Ober, Buxton, Clemens leads Twins to 5-1 win, drop Royals 2 back for last AL wild card

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Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton is congratulated after hitting a home run against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of a baseball game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton reacts after being hit by a pitch during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann) — Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton is congratulated after hitting a home run against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of a baseball game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

Audio By Carbonatix

4:29 PM on Sunday, September 7

By AVERY OSEN

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Byron Buxton and Kody Clemens homered and the Minnesota Twins beat Kansas City 5-1 on Sunday to drop the Royals two games back for the last AL wild card.

Buxton led off the game against Michael Lorenzen (5-10) with his 30th homer, extending his career high. He was hit by a 91.8 mph sinker in the fifth inning and was replaced for the bottom of the sixth because of what the Twins said was a bruised left knee.

Clemens hit his 16th homer in the fourth, a 451-drive that gave Minnesota a 3-0 lead. Minnesota padded its advantage in the fourth with a double steal, with Royce Lewis on first and Luke Keaschall on third.

Kansas City (73-69) fell two games behind Seattle (75-68) for the third AL wild card.

Bailey Ober (5-7) gave up one run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings,

Lorenzen allowed four runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Kansas City scored on Vinnie Pasquantino's RBI single in the sixth.

Key moment

Kansas City had the potential tying run at the plate with one out in the eighth before Kody Funderburk struck out Pasquantino and Justin Topa retired Salvador Perez on a groundout.

Key stat

Buxton has 17 leadoff homers, including eight this season.

Up next

Twins: RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (5-4, 4.53 ERA) starts Monday against the Los Angeles Angels and RHP Caden Dana (0-0, 4.91).

Royals: RHP Ryan Bergert (2-1, 2.61) will be on the mound Monday for the start of a four-game series at Cleveland, which starts RHP Slade Cecconi (5-6, 4.78)

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB