Joe Ryan pitches 7 scoreless innings and Twins beat Royals 4-0

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Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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Minnesota Twins’ Carlos Correa runs home to score on a single by Edouard Julien during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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Minnesota Twins’ Trevor Larnach (9) is tagged out by Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia as he tried to advance to third on a single by Edouard Julien during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. dives back to second too late to beat the tag after he was caught off base for the second out of a double play hit into by Salvador Perez during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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Minnesota Twins second baseman Edouard Julien catches a fly ball for the out on Kansas City Royals’ Hunter Renfroe during the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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Kansas City Royals’ Maikel Garcia beats the tag by Minnesota Twins first baseman Ty France as he dives back on a pickoff attempt during the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

By DAVID SMALE

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Joe Ryan continued his mastery over Kansas City, giving up just two hits over seven scoreless innings in the Minnesota Twins’ 4-0 victory over the Royals on Wednesday night.

Ryan (1-1), who struck out four and did not give up a walk, is now 7-0 in nine career starts against the Royals with a 1.30 ERA in 55 1/3 innings.

Seth Lugo (1-1) threw 109 pitches for the Royals, allowing two runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings.

The Twins got a run in the fourth on Edouard Julien’s RBI single to right. Lugo walked Carlos Correa and Trevor Larnach with one out. After Ty France lined one back to Lugo, Julien drove in Correa.

France’s two-out single in the sixth drove in Correa for a 2-0 lead.

The Twins got runs in the eighth and ninth, as Matt Wallner and France, respectively, each hit his first home run of the season.

Key Moment

After the Twins took a 1-0 lead in the fourth, the Royals had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the inning. Bobby Witt Jr. led off with a double, but he was doubled up after attempting to steal third and not getting back to second when Salvador Perez lined out to center.

Key Stat

France was 3 of 4 Wednesday with a home run and two RBIs. In 30 career games against Kansas City, he’s hitting .412, with a 1.154 OPS, his best against any opponent.

Up Next

The teams will complete a four-game series on Thursday. The Twins will send RHP Bailey Ober (0-1, 12.15 ERA) to the mound to face Kansas City RHP Michael Wacha (0-2, 4.66 ERA).

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb