Bobby Witt Jr. hit a home run on a pitch outside the strike zone for the fourth time this season, and Paul DeJong was a triple short of the cycle, helping the Kansas City Royals defeat the Minnesota Twins 4-1 on Wednesday to avoid a series sweep.
Witt’s home run came on a shoulder-high, full-count fastball from Louie Varland (0-5) in the third inning, giving the Royals a 2-0 lead. Witt’s 24th home run of the season traveled into the left-center bullpen and was 4.07 feet above the ground, the highest home run hit by a Kansas City player since pitch tracking began in 2008, according to MLB Statcast.
“When you’re on time, you can do a lot of good things,” Witt said about hitting Varland’s 96.8 mph pitch. “So just trying to be on time with the pitch and just let things happen.”
Witt leads the major leagues with a .349 batting average.
“I did not think he would get a piece of that well enough to get it over the fence, but it is what it is,” Varland said.
DeJong doubled in the second inning and scored on Kyle Isbel’s groundout, singled in the fourth, and homered in the sixth. This was DeJong’s first time reaching 20 home runs since hitting a career-high 30 for St. Louis in 2019, when he was an All-Star.
Several of DeJong’s family members, including his grandparents and a great-uncle, drove three hours from northern Wisconsin for the first two games of the series. When DeJong learned he would start Wednesday’s game after missing Monday and Tuesday, they decided to stay an extra day.
“I was aware I needed a triple, but with my speed at this stage in the season, it was going to have to be a miracle,” DeJong said, adding that he walked in his final at-bat. “I just realize that I’m thankful and blessed to be here on this team, and with every opportunity I get, I’m ready to make the most of it.”
Cole Ragans (10-7) struck out eight batters and walked none in seven innings, allowing one run and five hits. This is Ragans’ first time winning three straight starts in the major leagues.
Mixing 20 changeups, 12 knuckle-curves, 11 sliders, and nine cutters with 54 fastballs that averaged 95.3 mph, the All-Star retired 13 of his first 15 batters and the final six.
He allowed a home run by Carlos Santana in the fourth inning on a changeup, then got out of a jam in the fifth when Royce Lewis grounded out with the bases loaded.
“Got some quick outs there,” Ragans said. Lucas Erceg recorded two groundouts and a popup in a 13-pitch outing to earn his fifth save in eight opportunities.
Kansas City (66-55) is in the running for the third AL wild card spot, while the Twins (67-53) are in position for the second wild card spot.
“We have a special group,” Witt said, “and we’re still just getting better and better each and every day, I believe. I feel like the best is yet to come.”
The Royals are 3-7 against the Twins this season and 14-28 against Minnesota since 2022.
“We clearly came in here to try to win a series. We didn’t do that,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “But you take the next-best alternative and move on.”
Varland allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings, remaining winless since September 12, 2023. He was called up from St. Paul by the Twins, who sent right-hander Josh Winder back to the Triple-A team.
“It felt great,” Varland said. “Aside from the two home runs, one walk, I thought I kept the team in the game.”
Vinnie Pasquantino hit an RBI double in the seventh inning on a 100.3 mph pitch from Jhoan Duran.
