Minnesota Twins master Kansas City Royals again, New York Mets make it five straight

The Kansas City Royals stumbled to back-to-back losses to the Minnesota Twins in MLB, while the New York Mets went clear top in their division.

The Royals were humbled 8-5 by the Twins, who were powered by a pair of two-run homers from Kennys Vargas and Kurt Suzuki, while Joe Mauer was prominent with three RBIs.

Lorenzo Cain - three RBIs - flew the flag high for the losing Royals.

The Mets made it five straight wins to move half-a-game clear of the Atlanta Braves in the National League's East division, with a 7-5 victory over the Miami Marlins.

Lucas Duda's three hits aided the Mets' cause, as they piled on all their runs from the fifth to the seventh inning.

The Tampa Bay Rays won 4-2 over the Toronto Blue Jays, the Washington Nationals triumphed 5-2 over the Philadelphia Phillies behind the arm of pitcher Doug Fister, the St Louis Cardinals shut out the Milwaukee Brewers 4-0 and Aaron Hill hit a two-run double in the 12th inning as the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the San Francisco Giants 7-6.

IMPACT PLAYERSKurt Suzuki, Minnesota Twins - The Twins catcher is only hitting .200 on the year, but Suzuki was 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs as the Twins took the rubber match against the Royals, 8-5.

Lorenzo Cain, Kansas City Royals - The 2014 American League Championship Series MVP was 3 for 4 with a home run, a walk, three RBIs, three runs scored and a stolen base.

Chris Archer, Tampa Bay Rays - Starting pitcher Archer threw seven scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and two walks, while striking out 11 Blue Jays in a 4-1 win. The 26-year-old now owns a 1.37 ERA and 0.66 WHIP through three starts.

KEY INJURIESToronto Blue Jays shortstop Jose Reyes exited Thursday's game against the Rays with soreness in his left side. Reyes, who has been dealing with an oblique issue, exited after grounding out to second base in his first at-bat. MLB.com reported after the game that he would miss the Jays' weekend series against the Braves.

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria was removed from Thursday's game against the Blue Jays after being hit by a pitch on the left hip by Marco Estrada.

REACTIONS"Really? 17? I had no idea. Wow," Kansas City Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar said via MLB.com when he was told that his 17-game hitting streak dating to September ended with an 0-for-5 performance against the Minnesota Twins.

FACT OF THE DAYGiancarlo Stanton hit a first-inning, opposite-field homer on Thursday off Mets right-hander Dillon Gee for career home run number 155, the most in the Marlins' franchise history.

SURPRISE PERFORMERSt Louis Cardinals starting pitcher John Lackey pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing just five singles and a walk, while striking out eight Brewers in a 4-0 win. The 36-year-old now owns a 12 2/3 inning scoreless streak at Busch Stadium.

A LOOK AHEADThe Kansas City Royals will look to arrest their two-match losing run when the Oakland Athletics visit in a re-match of their American League wildcard game in 2014. Max Scherzer is on the mound for the Washington Nationals, who host the Philadelphia Phillies. The Colorado Rockies will look to remain unbeaten on the road (6-0), when they trek to the Los Angeles Dodgers.