In a 4th of July contest between the Minnesota Twins and the Kansas City Royals, the Twins emerged victorious with a 9-3 win. Max Kepler had an impressive performance, driving in four runs, including a three-run home run. Kenta Maeda, who has been making a strong comeback from the injured list, delivered a solid performance on the mound for the Twins.
Maeda, who recently returned from a right triceps strain, pitched a season-high seven innings, giving up two runs and three hits. He struck out nine batters and has now only allowed three earned runs in 17 innings across his three starts since coming off the injured list.
On the offensive side, Donovan Solano and Byron Buxton both had three hits and hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning. Carlos Correa also reached a significant milestone, recording his 1,000th career hit at just 28 years old.
For the Royals, Zack Greinke started the game but left with right shoulder discomfort after giving up six runs in 5 1/3 innings. Bobby Witt Jr. hit his 13th home run of the season for Kansas City.
The Twins’ offense has been picking up lately, with Kepler and Buxton contributing significantly. Kepler has been hitting .341 with five home runs and 12 RBIs in his last 14 games, while Buxton has a .389 batting average with two home runs and six RBIs in the past five games.
The win for the Twins marks their fourth victory in the last five games after being swept in a series against the Atlanta Braves. The team is showing improved performance and cohesion, supporting each other’s success and playing as a unit.
In the next game, RHP Pablo López is set to start for the Twins, while RHP Alec Marsh is expected to make his second career start for the Royals. López has previously faced the Royals this season, giving up six earned runs in 11 1/3 innings. Marsh had a challenging debut, allowing five runs in four innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The MLB scoreboard for Tuesday, July 4, 2023:
New York (AL) 8, Baltimore 4
Cincinnati 8, Washington 4
Texas 6, Boston 2
Miami 15, St. Louis 2
Minnesota 9, Kansas City 3
Chicago (NL) 7, Milwaukee 6 (11)
Oakland 1, Detroit 0 (10)
New York (NL) 8, Arizona 5
Toronto 4, Chicago (AL) 3
Pittsburgh 9, Los Angeles (NL) 7
Houston 4, Colorado 1
Philadelphia 3, Tampa Bay 1
Seattle 6, San Francisco 0
San Diego 8, Los Angeles (AL) 5
Cleveland 6, Atlanta 5
