Royals Rally Late to Secure First Thursday Win of 2026

On June 4, 2026, the Kansas City Royals triumphed over the Minnesota Twins with an 8-6 victory, marking their first Thursday win of the season. This match, played at Target Field in Minneapolis, featured a rain delay but ultimately showcased a thrilling comeback for the Royals, who have recently found their stride after a rocky start to their road trip.

Josh Rojas emerged as the unexpected hero in his debut with the Royals. Coming off the bench in the ninth inning with runners in scoring position and the game tied at 6-6, Rojas delivered a clutch hit against Twins reliever Justin Lawrence. His single up the middle allowed Tyler Tolbert, pinch-running for Salvador Perez, and Lane Thomas to cross the plate, giving Kansas City the lead.

Alex Lange took the mound for the Royals in the final inning, aiming to secure the win. Despite a challenging outing, he managed to close out the game. After allowing a single to Victor Caratini, the Twins threatened to tie with star hitter Byron Buxton representing the tying run, but Lange held firm, retiring Brooks Lee to end the game.

The game was a back-and-forth affair, with multiple ties throughout. The Royals initially fell behind after a lackluster performance from starting pitcher Seth Lugo, who struggled through five innings, giving up six hits and five earned runs, including three home runs. However, momentum shifted in the sixth inning when Carter Jensen's hit broke an 0-for-13 slump, leading to a pair of runs that tied the game.

As the game progressed, Bobby Witt Jr. contributed to the Royals' lead with a fortunate pop-up that dropped between confused Twins infielders. Following the rain delay, John Schreiber briefly lost the lead before Daniel Lynch IV and Matt Strahm delivered scoreless innings to secure the win, with Strahm earning his second victory of the season.

The Royals' win improves their record to 25-38, highlighting a much-needed boost as they prepare for the next game in the four-game series against the Twins scheduled for 7:15 PM CST tomorrow evening.