MINNEAPOLIS — It felt like time was running out on Max Kepler's tenure with the Twins about a month ago. He was sitting against lefthanded pitching. He was booed as his batting average dipped below .190. There were daily calls on social media about moving on from him.
Kepler, one month later, is rewarding the franchise's faith in him.
He staked the Twins to a four-run lead Tuesday with a pair of two-out hits, including a three-run homer in the third inning, during a 9-3 victory against the Royals at Target Field. Kepler has eight hits in his last four starts and he's batting .304 over his last 61 plate appearances.
