Kris Bubic allowed two hits over six solid innings, nine-hole batter Kyle Isbel clubbed a two-run home run and the Kansas City Royals won their home opener 3-1 over the Minnesota Twins on Monday.
Isaac Collins, who hit eighth in the Royals’ lineup, belted a late solo homer, and relievers Daniel Lynch IV, Nick Mears and John Schreiber (first save) combined to allow just two hits and no walks over the final three innings.
Maikel Garcia added two hits for the Royals, who have won two in a row after dropping the first two games of the season at Atlanta.
Bubic (1-0), an All-Star in 2025 before his season ended in late July due to a shoulder strain, yielded Matt Wallner’s second-inning homer that landed in the right field fountains. That came one inning after Minnesota’s Austin Martin led off the game with a single, but was caught stealing.
The left-hander also was not hurt by three walks, as the Twins left four on base and had just one opportunity to hit with runners in scoring position.
Isbel, meanwhile, entered the contest 3-for-4 with a home run against Minnesota starter Simeon Woods Richardson (0-1) in his career. He promptly sent a second-inning drive over the right field fence and into the bullpen to bring home Jonathan India, who opened the frame with a single.
That was the only damage allowed by Woods Richardson, who gave up five total hits and one walk over five innings for Minnesota, which has dropped three of four to open the campaign.
Collins, a native of suburban Minnesota, was 0-for-8 during his Royals tenure until the bottom of the seventh. With Kody Funderburk on the mound, Collins sent a 2-0 changeup over the left field wall for some insurance.
Kansas City has won 13 of its last 17 home meetings with the AL Central foe Twins.
Martin reached base three times Monday, walking twice after his single.
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