Twins swept by Royals as offense continues to struggle

The Minnesota Twins continue to struggle in the batter's box as the Kansas City Royals finished off a sweep at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday with a 2-0 win.

In three games against Kansas City this weekend, the Twins scored a total of two runs.

In their past two games, the team has averaged less than four runs scored per game, which should be more of an alarming topic discussed rather than manager Rocco Baldelli's questionable managing decisions on Saturday night involving pitcher Bailey Ober.

Related: Twins News: Frustration boils over as Rocco Baldelli explains decision to pull Bailey Ober

Rookie Simeon Woods Richardson couldn't last through five innings of work on Sunday, as he pitched 4.1 innings while giving up 3 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks and striking out 2.

The Twins bullpen — in contrast to Saturday night's fiasco — pitched well, throwing 3.2 innings of shutout baseball between Cole Sands, Jorge Alcala and Scott Blewett.

The Twins had another runner thrown out at home this series as Jose Miranda tried to score from first on a double from Trevor Larnach in the first inning. Minnesota would get three more hits the rest of the game and none of them happened in the same inning.

Kansas City scored both runs of the game in the fifth inning, coming off the bat of Garrett Hampson in the form of a sacrifice fly that scored MJ Melendez. Salvador Perez later singled hom Freddy Fermin on a soft infield hit to third that stayed fair.

Royals starter Michael Wacha earned his 12th win of the season as he pitched 7 strong innings, giving up 4 hits, no runs, a walk and struck out 7.

With the loss, Minnesota falls 5.5 games back of the American League Central-leading Guardians and 2.5 back of the Royals for the second AL Wild Card spot. While still holding the third wild card spot, the Seattle Mariners are only 3.5 games back after winning Sunday.

The Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers are four games back of Minnesota.

The Twins have now lost their past five of six ballgames as they look to right the ship on Monday when they begin a three-game series at home against the Los Angeles Angels. Rookie David Festa (2-5, 4.75 ERA) will take the mound for Minnesota while Reid Detmers (3-6, 5.87 ERA) does the same for the Halos. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m.