Yesterday’s Minnesota Twins game was a matinee game and The Rubber Game to decide the 3-game series. After walking off the Kansas City Royals in the 1st game of the series, the game on Wednesday night was a let down due to a 4-0 shutout loss at the hands of former Twins RHP Randy Dobnak.
2026 Minnesota Twins Schedule
54-55
MLB Standings
2nd Place in AL Central
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2026 Kansas City Royals Schedule
46-63
5th Place in AL Central
Here’s how both teams lined up:
Minnesota Twins Lineup:
Kansas City Royals Lineup:
Game Recap
The pitching matchup:
Kansas City Royals
LHP Noah Cameron
(5-8, 4.93 ERA, 1.412 WHIP*)
He probably had the best start of his career in his last start so don’t let the full season numbers fool you:
7.0IP 2H 0R/ER 3BB 8K on 97 pitches
vs
Minnesota Twins
RHP Bailey Ober
(7-3, 4.56 ERA, 1.247 WHIP*)
*ERA=Earned Run Average; WHIP=Walks + Hits per Inning Pitched
Yesterday’s game was looking like a repeat of that. The Minnesota Twins were down 3-0 and only had 2 walks through 6 innings. One walk was the Twins’ 1st plate appearance of the game, LF Austin Martin. The other, from Brooks Lee, led off the 6th inning.
Then they went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 8th as Royals starter Noah Cameron carved them up:
To the bottom of the 9th they went…
Twins OF Trevor Larnach pinch-hit for SS Ryan Kreidler and struck out swinging.
Twins C/1B Victor Caratini pinch-hit for LF Austin Martin and lined out to short.
The Minnesota Twins were down to their last hitter… it was C Ryan Jeffers… and…
He was hit by the 2nd pitch:
2B Royce Lewis came to the plate…
swung and missed the 1st pitch…
took the 2nd pitch for a strike…
The Twins were down to their last strike…
3rd pitch… outside for ball 1
4th pitch… outside for ball 2
5th pitch…
ROYCE ROLLS!!!
Ryan Jeffers to 2nd. We have life!
DH Josh Bell to the plate… He fouled off the first 2 pitches so again… the Twins were down to their last strike…
High for ball 1.
Higher for ball 2.
Inside for ball 3.
Royals C Salvador Perez challenged the pitch but it was confirmed to be a ball…
THE BASES ARE LOADED!!!
Kody Clemens came to the plate as the winning run.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro made a pitching change to LHP Matt Strahm.
Minnesota Twins OF Alan Roden came in to pinch run for Josh Bell.
Oh, boy! This is exciting. This 2026 Minnesota Twins team battles til the end every game! That’s why you have to love them and stick with them. Sorry…
RF Kody Clemens came to the plate…
The Twins were down to their last strike again…
a rocket off the bat on a 104.7 exit velocity and a 27º launch angle to deep right center field…
GRAND SLAM to WALK IT OFF for the WIN!!!
HOLY WOW!!! THE TWINS WIN THE GAME!!!
VIDEO:
Watch it Again from Field View
A rocket… well… a Missile (as in the Son of Roger The Rocket Clemens) to change a 3-0 deficit into a 4-3 win!
104.7 mph exit velocity.
27° launch angle.
Were there any fans who left the game early? NEVER LEAVE THE GAME EARLY!!!*
*Unless you have to for parenting or other good reason, of course!
Condensed Game:
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Final Score
Kansas City Royals 3 | 4 Minnesota Twins
W-Yoendrys Gómez (2-0) L-Matt Strahm (3-4)
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Game Notes
The Minnesota Twins were down to their final out with nobody on base and they had 8 pitches facing their final strike!
- the 3rd one was a single from Royce Lewis (ROYCE ROLLS!!!)
- the 6th one was a walk to Josh Bell …
- and, on the 8th pitch*… Kody Clemens DID IT!!!
*God, is that you? You tend to like the 8th. Haha!
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AND… how ‘bout this?
The crazy thing about Kody Clemens being a Minnesota Twin. Last season, rookie phenom 2B Luke Keaschall was hit by a pitch in his left forearm. He had to have surgery and missed a lot of time so the Twins were looking for someone to fill that spot and claimed Kody Clemens off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies.
Kody Clemens’ career before coming to Minnesota* (the 5 rows on the top):
Kody Clemens after coming to Minnesota* (the 2 rows on the bottom)
Isn’t it crazy how often a player gets to a new place and everything just clicks? Where would the Minnesota Twins be without Kody Clemens? Who knows but it’s hard to think it would be as fun & exciting as it’s been with him on the Minnesota Twins.
*Should we go with #Twinnesota?
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