Escobar’s hot bat isn’t enough to clip Royals

MINNEAPOLIS — Lorenzo Cain tied a career high with four hits, while Salvador Perez hit a two-run homer to lift the Royals to a 7-4 win over the Twins on Tuesday night at Target Field. Kansas City won its fourth straight series, while Minnesota has lost eight of its last nine games.

Cain, who had four hits for the 10th time in his career, also drove in two runs. Perez, who had a career-high five hits on Monday, hit a second-inning homer off former teammate Ervin Santana.

It was enough offense for Royals right-hander Edinson Volquez, who went 6 2/3 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks with six strikeouts. Volquez improved to 5-4 with a 3.79 ERA. Closer Wade Davis loaded the bases with none out in the ninth, but struck out Eduardo Nunez and Joe Mauer before getting Miguel Sano to line out to center for his 12th save.

Volquez outpitched Santana, who went a season-low 3 2/3 innings, surrendering six runs on nine hits and two walks. It was the worst start of the season for Santana, who saw his ERA rise from 3.13 to 4.17.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDSizzling LoCain: It didn’t seem that long ago that Cain’s average was stuck in the low .200s. He has now hit in six straight and is …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com