The Kansas City Royals kept the Minnesota Twins off the board for the second time in three games, sweeping the series Sunday with a 2-0 win at Kauffman Stadium.

Another pitchers’ duel had unfolded between the Royals’ Michael Wacha and Twins’ Simeon Woods Richardson until the fifth inning, when the Royals loaded the bases on a leadoff walk and two singles. Garrett Hampson’s sacrifice fly to left field brought in MJ Melendez. After another walk and then a strikeout, Salvador Perez had a brilliantly placed single to bring Freddy Fermin home and extend the lead.

The Royals ended up leaving the bases loaded, but despite Twins catcher Christian Vásquez going three-for-three, the rest of the visitors’ lineup struggled to capitalize. Wacha kept the Twins to just four hits and one walk in seven innings with seven strikeouts, to achieve his 100th career victory. Lucas Erceg allowed a hit in the ninth but struck one out to claim his 11th save of the year.

The sweep now has Kansas City at 79-65, 2.5 games behind Cleveland in the AL Central while 2.5 games ahead of Minnesota for the second wild card spot. The Royals visit the New York Yankees on Monday, needing to keep the momentum going as Cleveland will seek to rebound at the Chicago White Sox. Pregame from Yankee Stadium is at 5:30 p.m., with first pitch at 6:05 on KMMO FM 102.9.