Royals get swept in the first series of the season
![Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan (41) throws out Kansas City Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino (9) during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 2, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo.](https://abc17news.b-cdn.net/abc17news.com/2023/04/AP23092717530795-scaled.jpg)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Kansas City Royals got off to a lackluster start to the 2023 season on opening week. Despite putting the first runs of the year up on Sunday, KC couldn't out-hit Minnesota. The Twins completed the sweep with a 7-4 win.
Minnesota had kept Kansas City scoreless through the first two games of the season with 2-0 wins in each game, but the Royals offense broke through on Sunday. Edward Olivares scored the first run of the season with a solo homer in the second inning, which tied up the game at one.
However, the KC pitching staff let Ryan Jeffers and Joey Gallo drive in runs to take a 6-1 lead in the seventh inning. Gallo's bat was hot, as he finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two home runs and four RBI.
Brad Keller is handed the loss on the bump for Kansas City. He pitched a little more than four innings, allowing two earned runs with six strikeouts.
Up next - Kansas City will stay home, at Kauffman Stadium, to host the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday, April 3. First pitch is slated for 6:40 p.m.