Twins’ Royce Lewis walks off Rockies with epic 10th inning hit

The Minnesota Twins survived a dramatic late collapse to defeat the Colorado Rockies 9-8 in 10 innings Friday night at Target Field, thanks to Royce Lewis’ first walk-off hit of his career.

Lewis lined a game-winning RBI single through the middle off Jimmy Herget after Kyler Fedko, who entered as a pinch-runner for Josh Bell, moved to third on a wild pitch. The win was Minnesota’s first walk-off win of the season and improved the team to seven victories in its last 11 games.

Royce Lewis walks it off for the Twins! pic.twitter.com/ThSMZVGVWR

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 27, 2026

The Twins appeared in complete control early. Kody Clemens opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the first inning, while Brooks Lee added another two-run shot in the second. Byron Buxton doubled home Trevor Larnach before Bell’s two-run double ended a three-run fifth inning, giving Minnesota a 7-0 advantage.

Starter Taj Bradley dominated through seven-plus innings, allowing just two runs on three hits while striking out seven and walking three. He also recorded the 500th strikeout of his career against Hunter Goodman in the sixth inning and pitched into the eighth inning for the first time this season, matching his career high of seven full innings.

Colorado mounted its comeback after Bradley exited. The Rockies scored three runs in the eighth before erupting for five more in the ninth. Jake McCarthy launched a three-run homer off Eric Orze, and Goodman followed with a 451-foot, two-run blast against Anthony Banda, erasing the Twins lead and putting Colorado ahead 8-7. The home run was Banda’s second blown save of the season after he had not surrendered a run in his previous 18 appearances.

Minnesota answered immediately in the bottom of the ninth. Pinch-hitters Austin Martin and Ryan Kreidler reached with singles before Buxton’s high chopper over third baseman Willi Castro tied the game.

Andrew Morris earned the win after throwing a scoreless 10th inning. A clutch defensive play by shortstop Tristan Gray, who threw out Tyler Freeman at the plate after fielding a ground ball on the infield grass, preserved the tie and set up Lewis’ game-winning hit.

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