In Friday’s 6-4 victory over the Twins, Benintendi went 4-for-5 with two home runs, five RBI, and three runs scored.
For the second time in three games, Benintendi produced one of the greatest offensive performances of his career, driving in five runs. For only the second time this season, he had three runs of his own.
![Andrew Benintendi](https://sportsnaut.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/16267054-750x422.jpg)
The Royals’ 2021 season has been a four-act play for Benintendi. In his first two and a half weeks of the season, he struggled, batting below the Mendoza line in 16 of his first 17 games.
His bat, though, warmed up as the temperature did. On May 1, he had an 11-game hitting streak, including a two-homer game against the Twins.
By early June, he was flirting with.300, making Dayton Moore’s deal look like a major win.
Benintendi made a throw from left field in a game in Oakland in mid-June that appeared to be harmless at first.
However, it was discovered that he had sustained a hairline rib cage fracture, the same injury that had plagued him in 2020 and limited him to just 14 games.
On July 4, Benintendi would return, but his numbers had plummeted. Benintendi had been praised for his on-base abilities before the season, but a summer slump saw his on-base percentage drop below .300 in September.
Benny, on the other hand, closed the season on a high note with a scorching September. Andrew hit .536/.548/.964 with three home runs and 14 RBI on a seven-game road trip to Baltimore and Minnesota.