Minnesota Twins pitcher Kenta Maeda allowed two runs in five innings of work in a 2-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, the team's fifth straight defeat.
Maeda (2-6) struck out seven while walking two and giving up four hits, including a second-inning solo home run to Freddy Fermin, at Kauffman Stadium.
After the Twins' Matt Wallner homered to tie the game at a run apiece in the top of the third, Maikel Garcia doubled in the go-ahead run in the bottom half off Maeda.
"I gave up two runs, but I think I was able to be persistent with my pitches," the 35-year-old right-hander said.
On Fermin's home run, Maeda said, "I threw a fat pitch. With the count being 0-2, I didn't have to throw a strike. That was completely my mistake."
Ryan Yarbrough (4-5) pitched seven innings of one-run ball for the win. Carlos Hernandez picked up his first career save.
Among other Japanese players in the major leagues, Shohei Ohtani went 1-for-3 with two intentional walks as the Los Angeles Angels avoided a three-game sweep at Rogers Centre with a 3-2, 10-inning win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Hunter Renfroe drove in all three of Los Angeles' runs with a sacrifice fly in the third and a two-run homer in the 10th.
