Saturday marked the first doubleheader of the season for the Royals and Minnesota after severe weather postponed Friday’s series opener. All doubleheaders in Major League Baseball during this virus-shortened 60-game season are seven-inning games.

Nelson Cruz hit a two-run homer and the Minnesota Twins held on to beat the Kansas City Royals 4-2 in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader.

Tyler Duffey (1-0) earned the win with a perfect inning in relief of Jake Odorizzi. Taylor Rogers picked up his fifth save in six chances for Minnesota, which was swept in Kansas City last week.

Gabe Speier (0-1) surrendered one while getting two outs for the Royals. Ian Kennedy started and pitched two innings as the opener, his first start since Sept. 28, 2018.

Whit Merrifield had three hits, including a three-run homer, to back Danny Duffy’s strong start as the Kansas City Royals came back to beat the Minnesota Twins 4-2 and split Saturday’s doubleheader.

Nelson Cruz homered in both games of the doubleheader and now has 407 career home runs, tying Duke Snider for 56th on the all-time list. The Twins won Saturday’s first game 4-2 as Cruz had a pair of hits.

In the second game, Merrifield lined a pitch into the left-field bleachers after Minnesota starter Jose Berrios (1-3) walked two batters earlier in the inning.

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Royals rookie RHP Brady Singer (1-1, 4.50) will start for the Royals and Minnesota will counter with their surprise right-hander Randy Dobnak (3-1, 0.90 ERA). Dobnak has allowed two runs in 20 innings over four starts this season. Singer, the Royals’ first-round draft pick in 2018, earned his first major league win last week against Minnesota when he gave up two runs in five innings.

You can catch all the action from the Royals Radio Network with pregame scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. Sunday on KMMO AM 1300. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 Sunday afternoon.