KC Royals extend winning streak ahead of road series against Yankees in New York

The Kansas City Royals ended their six-game homestand on a celebratory note Sunday afternoon.

The Royals swept the Minnesota Twins after earning a 2-0 victory at Kauffman Stadium. The victory extended their winning streak to four games.

The win was important in several ways. First, it gives the Royals some momentum heading into a pivotal three-game road series against the New York Yankees on Monday.

At 79-65, the Royals are 2 1/2 games ahead of the Twins for the second spot in the American League Wild Card race.

The Royals also showed their ability to rebound. After a rough seven-game losing streak, the Royals ended their homestand with four wins, each coming in a different way.

On Sunday, the Royals scored two runs in the fifth inning. Outfielder Garrett Hampson hit a sacrifice fly as KC took a 1-0 lead. Later, Royals star Salvador Perez legged out an RBI single that went about 80 feet down the third-base line.

Those runs helped Royals starter Michael Wacha. He netrualized the Twins across seven scoreless innings. He scattered four hits and struck out seven batters en route to his 12th win of the season.

The Royals’ bullpen was also dynamic. Relievers Kris Bubic and Lucas Erceg didn’t allow a run and shut the door late. The Twins managed just five hits and stranded eight runners on base.

Minnesota dropped to 76-67. The Royals created distance in both the divisional and wild card races.

Missed previous games of the series?

Game 1: Cole Ragans eclipses 200 strikeouts as Royals shutout Twins

Game 2: Royals register late comeback in 4-2 win over Twins

Here are more notable aspects of Sunday’s game:

Royals produce another defensive highlight

The Twins had a chance to take an early lead in the first inning. Jose Miranda got aboard with a one-out single after lacing a 94.4 mph sinker into right field.

That single was the first hit of the game. Next, Twins outfielder Trevor Larnach hit a double that rolled to the right-field wall. Miranda hustled around the bases and attempted to score from first base.

However, the Royals strung together another impressive relay. Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe corralled the baseball and threw a strike to second baseman Maikel Garcia.

Garcia set his feet and fired toward home plate. The baseball beat Miranda as he slid into Royals catcher Freddy Fermin.

Fermin applied the tag and the Twins were turned away. It was the second successful relay of the series after the Royals turned the same trick on Friday night.

What’s next on the KC Royals’ schedule:

The Royals begin a six-game road trip on Monday. KC will open a midweek series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

Royals right-handed pitcher Brady Singer will start in the series opener. Singer is 3-4 with a 3.95 ERA in 13 road outings this season. He allowed seven runs (six earned) against the Yankees on June 11.

The Yankees will start left-hander Carlos Rodon. In his last outing, Rodon struck out 11 batters against the Texas Rangers.