MINNEAPOLIS — Miguel Sano homered and drew the third bases-loaded walk for Minnesota during a dreadful seventh inning for Kansas City’s bullpen as Ervin Santana and the Twins beat the Royals 7-1 on Monday for their first opening day victory in nine years.
Mike Moustakas homered leading off the fourth for the Royals, but Sano responded in the bottom of the inning with a tying 425-foot drive into the second deck off Danny Duffy.
Santana (1-0) gave up just two hits and two walks while striking out three over seven innings against his former team, aided by two diving catches of sinking line drives by center fielder Byron Buxton that highlighted a stellar afternoon of defense by the Twins.