Less than 24 hours after mounting a nine-run, 15-hit attack to halt a 10-game losing streak, the Royals’ pitching staff surrendered an early lead and lost to the Twins 8-4 at Target Field on Wednesday afternoon.
Salvador Perez had provided early fireworks for the Royals, scooping out Lance Lynn’s sinking fastball from below the zone and delivering it to left-center field for a three-run homer in the first inning. Mike Moustakas added a leadoff home run in the third.
But the Royals’ 4-2 lead evaporated in the fourth inning. After Burch Smith, who was on a 70-pitch limit in his first major-league start since Sept.