MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Melky Cabrera became the first Kansas City player in 11 years to get 200 hits and Mike Moustakas hit the go-ahead home run in a four-run sixth inning as the Royals topped the Minnesota Twins 7-3 on Monday night.
Cabrera, who hit an infield single and scored the game’s opening run in the first inning and added another infield single in the sixth, became the sixth player in Kansas City history to eclipse 200 hits and the first since Johnny Damon and Mike Sweeney both did it in 2000. His previous career best for hits in a season was 149 in 2007 while with the New York Yankees.
Cabrera’s single led off the four-run sixth inning that saw the Royals send nine batters to the plate. Moustakas’ two-out solo shot broke a 3-3 tie to give Kansas City a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
Felipe Paulino (4-6) gave up three runs and six hits in six innings, striking out nine. The right-hander has 17 strikeouts in his last two outings and at least eight in three of his last four starts.
The victory was the Royals’ third straight against Minnesota, pushing the Twins to 99 losses with two games left in the season. Minnesota needs to win both contests against Kansas City to avoid its second 100-loss season since moving to the Twin Cities in 1961.