Twins 8, Royals 3: Pinto Homers, Plouffe Rakes as Offense Rolls

The Twins can score half a dozen runs off of anybody these days, and they tagged the Royals for eight this afternoon. Six of Minnesota's season-high 13 hits came off of Yordano Ventura, who only finished four innings and was charged with four runs thanks in no small part to Trevor Plouffe (two doubles and a triple) and Louis Coleman's inability to clean up Ventura's mess in the fifth.

Chris Colabello continues to produce runs, picking up a run-scoring single in the fifth. Josmil Pinto homered for the fourth time this season. Kurt Suzuki, who had two more hits today, drove in two with a double in the seventh to cap off Minnesota's offensive output.

Phil Hughes put in his best start of the spring. He went past five innings for the first time, and he allowed just one run through six full. But he came out for the seventh, allowed a leadoff single, and then Alcides Escobar looked like he was waiting for Hughes' first-pitch fastball and yanked it into the left field seats for a two-run blast.

Brian Duensing got his three outs in the bottom of the seventh and the first out in the eighth before giving away to Casey Fien. Fien looked sharp. Glen Perkins struck out a pair en route to a scoreless ninth, although it wasn't a save opportunity.

The Twins walked eight (EIGHT!) more times tonight, and they were also 6-for-14 with runners in scoring position. They landed five extra-base hits, including Suzuki's double, Pinto's homer, and the triple and two doubles from Plouffe.

Minnesota is 9-9, one half game behind the Royals. And that's not too bad. Happy Easter, folks. Check out our look at the addition of Sam Fuld, and we'll see you tomorrow morning.

ROLL CALL!

1. SooFoo Fan (59)
2. BCTwins (55)
3. less cowbell, more 'neau (36)
4. kenzertz (34)
5. DavidRF (18)