After going 1-5 over the last road trip some home-cooking looked to be just what the doctor ordered. Unfortunately the Twins could not figure out Danny Duffy, (who has been money this year) and were not able to grasp a clutch hit. Despite getting to the bullpen of Kansas City, the Twins still could not scratch more across. Yohan Pino was on the bump and was roughed up, surrendering four runs on seven hits. Brian Dozier who usually is slick with the glove, committed two errors tonight which resulted in two more runs in the eighth. It was an ugly game and opener to the home-stand.
The Royals struck first when Alcides Escobar drove in a couple in the second inning. Escobar finished the day with four runs batted in. It was in the fifth inning when Eduardo Nunez, in his first game back from the disabled list, drove in Chris Parmelee. In the sixth, Kurt Suzuki and Joe Mauer reached on a single and a walk respectively. The middle of the order was due up but all were retired in order ending the threat. In the seventh inning it was a similar story as the first two men reached and Oswaldo Arcia was called upon as a pinch-hitter. Ozzie has been in quite the funk this month and honestly has not done very well with RISP this season. Arcia would pop-up, Dozier flied out and Suzuki grounded out to end the inning. The Twins even put a runner in scoring position in both the eighth and ninth, but failed to drive in any runners, causing us agony on the Twitter and in our hearts.
Tomorrow the Twins have Ricky Nolasco going up against big-game James Shields, which should be a treat...
Studs:
Nunez
Parm (somehow again)
Duds
Dozier
Kendrys?