Michael Wacha pitched seven innings, allowing only four hits, and Garrett Hampson and Salvador Perez each drove in a run as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Minnesota Twins 2-0 on Sunday, completing a series sweep of their nearest competitors in the AL wild-card race.
Wacha (12-7) struck out seven and walked just one, achieving his 100th career win. His defense provided strong support, turning two double plays and throwing out a runner trying to score from first base in the first inning.
Kris Bubic took care of the eighth inning for Kansas City, and Lucas Erceg secured his 11th save by working around a leadoff single in the ninth.
“It’s definitely a cool number for sure, something that was on my goal list coming into the season,” Wacha said about his milestone win. “It was definitely one of those days when (Bubic and Erceg) came in and slammed the door there.”
Simeon Woods Richardson (5-4) gave up two runs on three hits and two walks before being removed with one out in the fifth inning. Minnesota’s bullpen kept the Royals from scoring further, but it didn’t matter since the Twins’ offense was shut out.
After the game, the Twins had a long closed-door meeting, and manager Rocco Baldelli made a brief statement without taking questions: “It’s an unprofessional series of baseball that we just played and that’s my only comment for the day. I’m not commenting on anything else. I don’t think anything else really has to be said.”
With this win, the Royals moved 2 1/2 games ahead of the AL Central-rival Twins for the second wild-card spot.
