Twins eliminated from AL wild-card race after loss to Royals
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The Minnesota Twins were eliminated from the AL wild-card race Saturday, getting stifled by Yordano Ventura for seven innings in a 5-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals.
Ventura (13-8) carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning and struck out 11 to win his third straight decision for Kansas City (94-67), which momentarily pulled ahead of Toronto (93-67) for home-field advantage through the postseason. The Blue Jays play at Tampa Bay later Saturday.
Blaine Boyer (3-6) allowed two runs (one earned) while getting two outs for Minnesota (83-78), which began play two games back of Houston for the second wild-card spot. The Twins committed two errors in a costly four-run seventh inning for the Royals.
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Minnesota loaded the bases in the ninth inning before Wade Davis struck out Kennys Vargas and Eduardo Escobar for his 17th save in 18 chances.