Twins make history as record 4th 100-win team

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A short game left a lasting memory for the Minnesota Twins.

The Twins became the record fourth team in the major leagues to win 100 games this season, beating the Kansas City Royals 6-2 Friday night behind two-run homers from Miguel Sano and Ryan LaMarre in a game shortened to 6 1/2 innings because of rain.

Minnesota, which plays the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series starting next Friday, reached the century mark in wins for just the second time in franchise history. The 1965 Twins went 102-60, then lost in the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games.

"It was really cool," said Rocco Baldelli, the Twins' first-year manager. "We just had a moment as a group here in the clubhouse -- it was really nice in a season full of really cool, exciting times and accomplishments."

The Astros, Dodgers and Yankees also have 100 wins. Before this year, the only seasons with as many as three 100-game winners were 1942, '77, '98, 2002, '03, '16 and '17.

This is the second season with three 100-win teams in one league after the AL last year, and the first with all three division winners in one league reaching the century mark.

At 58-102, the Royals are among a record-tying four teams with 100 losses, joining Detroit, Baltimore and Miami. Kansas City has reached triple figures in losses for the sixth time. The only previous season with four 100-loss clubs was 2002.

Nelson Cruz and Eddie Rosario hit RBI singles in the first off Eric Skoglund (0-3), and Sano boosted the lead to 4-0 in the second with his 34th homer. LaMarre's second home run of the season made it 6-1 in the third.

Baldelli became the seventh manager to lead his team to 100 wins in the majors, according research by the Elias Sports Bureau, after the Yankees' Ralph Houk (1961) and Aaron Boone (2018), Detroit's Mickey Cochrane (1934), Cincinnati's Sparky Anderson (1970), San Francisco's Dusty Baker (1993) and Boston's Alex Cora (2018).

Baldelli set a franchise record for a rookie manager, surpassing Joe Cronin's 99 for the 1933 Washington Senators.

"For us, it's unbelievable. That's great," Sano said. "Great team, good people, good coaches. It's a big moment for Rocco -- his first time out winning 100 games."

Minnesota's 303 home runs are second in the major leagues behind the Yankees' 305. The Twins didn't seem concerned about falling behind.

"That's not something that's going to be overly upsetting to anyone," Baldelli said.

Jose Berrios (14-8) struck out nine, allowing two runs and six hits in his first complete game this season, the third of his big league career. By finishing six innings, he reached 200 1/3 for the season.

"Every great athlete prepares himself to do great things, and that was one of my goals this year. Every good pitcher wants to throw at least 200 innings in a season," Berrios said.

Whit Merrifield singled in the first for his 202nd hit, advanced to third on Hunter Dozier's double and scored on Alex Gordon's groundout. Merrifield tripled in the fifth and scored on Jorge Soler's sacrifice fly, Soler's 113th RBI.

With rain moving into the area, the Twins turned aggressive, intent on getting at least five innings in after taking the lead. Royals reliever Kevin McCarthy needed just four pitches to retire them in the fifth.

"We knew we were racing against the rain," Baldelli said. "We knew it was going to get pretty ugly out there quick."

Umpires called the game after a 40-minute delay.