Royals’ bats give worn-out bullpen a break

MINNEAPOLIS — With the playoff push in full swing, every win is critical now — and on their last homestand, the Royals’ bullpen gave away four late leads to turn what could have been a 6-0 homestand into a 2-4 one instead.

But in Monday’s 11-5 victory over the Twins, the Kansas City offense gave the back end of its bullpen a much-needed break with six late insurance runs, including four from Eric Hosmer, that turned a tense one-run game into a blowout by the eighth inning.

“It was huge, because we’re at the time and the point in the year now where we’re going to need those guys in every close situation, whether it’s a tie game or even if we’re down one,” Hosmer said.

With the Royals clinging to a 5-4 lead heading into the seventh inning, the Royals might have needed to use Wade Davis or …

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