MINNEAPOLIS -- Through the first seven games of the season, not many Twins players had found much success at the plate. That included Oswaldo Arcia, a guy who hit 20 home runs for Minnesota just one season ago.
Entering Wednesday's matchup with Kansas City, Arcia had just three hits and five strikeouts in 17 at-bats in his first six games. He had yet to drive in a run, one year after finishing with 57 RBI.
Arcia picked a perfect time for his first RBI -- and first home run -- of 2015.
The Twins left fielder hit a two-run blast to right-center field that went about as high as it did far. That broke open a tie game in the fourth inning and proved to be the game-winning hit as Minnesota held on for a 3-1 victory, handing the Royals their first loss of the season.
"It was a big hit, obviously," Twins manager Paul Molitor said after the win. "The difference in the game (was) that he was able to do that."
Minnesota took a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Brian Dozier. Batting cleanup for the first time in his career, Dozier came to the plate with the bases loaded and nobody out in the first. He sent a shot to the gap in right-center that was tracked down and caught by Kansas City center fielder Lorenzo Cain. It allowed Danny Santana to score from third, but could have been bigger if Cain didn't cover plenty of ground to make the catch.
After scoreless second and third innings, Kansas City tied the game in the fourth on a single to right by Alex Gordon. That was the only run that Twins starter Kyle Gibson would allow, limiting the damage in his second start of the year.
In the bottom of the fourth, Gibson got the only run support he'd need the rest of the way -- and it came courtesy of Arcia. With a 1-2 count, Arcia connected on a 94 mph fastball from Royals starter Edinson Volquez and planted it in the flower boxes above the tall wall in right-center field for an estimated 380-foot homer.
Though the drive was a towering one, Arcia wasn't exactly convinced it was gone. After all, he did hit it to one of the deepest parts of Target Field. After the game, he was asked if he thought the ball was gone as soon as he hit it.
"Yeah, but it was close," Arcia said.
The 23-year-old Arcia is now in his third major-league season. He played 97 games as a rookie in 2013, batting .251 with 13 homers. He saw his average dip last year as he hit just .231 with 20 home runs.
In 2015, Arcia made a position change, moving from right field to left field. The Twins hoped the move would allow Arcia to be more comfortable defensively at Target Field as he wouldn't have to worry about the overhang above the wall in right field. However, through the first week, Arcia has misplayed a few balls hit to left field.
Though Arcia might never win a Gold Glove, the Twins love his power potential. He showed it off Wednesday as he hit Minnesota's third home run of the season -- and the first multi-run homer by a Twin this year.
"He's trying. He was out early working on his swing. (Hitting coach) Tom Brunansky was tweaking a few things with using his lower half a little bit better, some things like that," Molitor said. "We're going to try to find ways for him to get more consistent. I'm going to have to pick my matchups with him, whether it's some tough lefties or things like that. Plus I have to get some other guys in there now and then. But it was good to see that. We need to mix in that longball now and then. That came at a perfect time today."
Minnesota hopes Arcia can continue to make strides offensively to become a more well-rounded hitter. He'll need to cut down on the strikeouts -- he had 127 last year -- and raise his average a bit, too.
After a tough first week, though, Arcia broke through at least for one game. He said afterward that he's feeling a bit more comfortable offensively. That's a good thing for the Twins.
"I feel good today," Arcia said. "I see the ball good."
Follow Tyler Mason on Twitter
