Royals miss sweep, chance to gain in WC race

MINNEAPOLIS — At long last, the Twins’ losing streak to the Royals finally came to an end on Wednesday night. Minnesota rallied late with two runs in the seventh, keyed by an RBI double from Miguel Sano and a go-ahead single from Eduardo Escobar, to snap a seven-game skid against Kansas City with a 6-5 win at Target Field.

With the loss, the Royals dropped to 12-3 in the season series and remained four games back of the Orioles for an American League Wild Card spot.

Brian Dozier fell short of establishing a club record with a homer in six straight games, but he helped spark the two-run seventh against reliever Joakim Soria with a leadoff single and a stolen base. Dozier scored on Sano’s double off the right-field wall to tie it at 4. Escobar came through with the go-ahead hit with two out. Byron Buxton gave the Twins an insurance run with a homer in the eighth.

Kendrys Morales paced the Royals’ offense, going 3-for-4 with a homer, two RBIs and two runs scored. Morales got Kansas City on the board with an RBI single in the fourth before connecting on a solo blast in the sixth for a two-run lead.

Neither starter factored into the decision, as Royals lefty Danny Duffy went six innings, surrendering three runs (two earned) on eight hits with 10 strikeouts. The unearned run scored in the sixth with the help of Buxton’s speed, as he scored from second on a grounder to shortstop Alcides Escobar, whose throw to first was offline. Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson also went six frames, surrendering four runs on eight hits. Minnesota closer Brandon Kintzler yielded a run in the ninth but still earned his 14th …

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