BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (Interstat) — A four-run sixth inning powered by Brooks Lee’s solo home run turned a one-run deficit into a lead the Minnesota Twins never surrendered as they defeated the Kansas City Royals 5-3 on Friday night at Target Field.

The Royals took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Bobby Witt Jr. walked and Vinnie Pasquantino followed with a double, scoring Witt. Two batters later, Jac Caglianone doubled to bring home Pasquantino. Kansas City managed only one more run the rest of the game, coming in the ninth inning.

Minnesota answered in the third inning. Alex Jackson singled and advanced to third on a bunt single by Tristan Gray that also drew a throwing error from Royals starter Michael Wacha. Lee then grounded into a force out that scored Jackson, cutting the lead to 2-1.

The game remained 2-1 until the bottom of the sixth, when the Twins erupted. Lee led off with his ninth home run of the season, a fly ball to right field, tying the score 2-2. Kody Clemens followed with a double and Josh Bell doubled to drive in Clemens, giving Minnesota a 3-2 lead. Orlando Arcia then singled, scoring Bell, and a throwing error by right fielder Caglianone allowed Arcia to reach second. Later in the inning, Austin Martin grounded out, but the damage was done as the Twins held a 4-2 lead. Kansas City cut the lead to 4-3 in the ninth on a groundout by Maikel Garcia that scored Caglianone, but the Royals could not complete the rally.

The six-run sixth inning proved to be the decisive moment of the game. Kansas City’s two-run first inning was their only sustained offense, as Twins starter Zebby Matthews settled in after that frame. Matthews pitched seven innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs with two strikeouts and three walks to earn his second win of the season against three losses. Michael Wacha took the loss, falling to 4-4, after giving up four runs—three earned—on six hits over six innings. Travis Adams earned his second save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning, striking out one.

The Royals totaled eight hits in the game, while the Twins had ten. Kansas City’s Caglianone went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and an RBI. Bobby Witt Jr. walked and doubled in the eighth inning. For the Twins, Tristan Gray went 2-for-3 with a double, and Kody Clemens also had two hits in four at-bats, including a double. Josh Bell drove in a run with his double, and Lee finished 1-for-4 with his home run and two RBIs.

Attendance was 19,805, and the game lasted 2 hours, 23 minutes.

Kansas City dropped to 25-39 on the season, while Minnesota improved to 30-35. The victory evened the four-game series after the Royals won the opener 8-6 on Thursday. The teams are scheduled to play again Saturday and Sunday before Kansas City returns home to host Texas on Tuesday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Minnesota 4, Kansas City 3, and its ELO system gave Minnesota a 50.60 percent probability to win. Kansas City had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 1.5. The total of 8 runs went over the over-under line of 8.5.