KANSAS CITY, MO. — Jorge Polanco homered in the first inning, Byron Buxton in the fifth, and the Twins' 2021 season ended on a two-game winning streak with a 7-3 victory over the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
The Twins finished with eight vicorties in their final 12 games, avoiding a 90-loss season with a 73-89 record. It is, however, the Twins' seventh losing season in the 12-year Target Field era, and fifth last-place finish.
"A disappointing season," manager Rocco Baldelli said, "but we played hard to the very end."
The first six Twins hitters reached base to open Sunday's game, giving themselves a five-run lead that Kansas City could never close. Luis Arraez smacked the second pitch from rookie Jackson Kowar into center field; Buxton followed with a double into the left-field corner; and Polanco connected with his team-high 33rd homer of the season, a long line drive over the fence in right-center field.
Polanco and Buxton "gave us exactly what we saw all year long from them. They took over the game," Baldelli said. "Both of them are huge parts of this organization, and it was great to see them finish the year out strong."
It was Polanco's fifth first-inning home run since September began, and his third in a row on the first pitch. But the Twins' punishment of Kowar wasn't finished.
Josh Donaldson drew a walk, Max Kepler singled him to third, and Miguel Sano brought him home with a single to left. When Nick Gordon beat the relay of a double-play ball, Kepler scored, too, and Twins rookie Charlie Barnes owned a 5-0 lead as he took the mound.