:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54547215/675207452.0.jpg)
The real story today was Miguel Sano’s day at the plate, but we’ll get to that soon.
First, I should tell you that the Royals scored twice in the 2nd inning. Eric Hosmer hit a pop up that no one caught for a single. Salvador Perez followed that with an RBI double, and then Brandon Moss followed that up with an RBI single.
The Twins weren’t down for long. Byron Buxton lead off the next inning with a walk, and after Brian Dozier flew out, Max Kepler walked as well. Then, Jason Hammel threw a fastball inside that Miguel Sano was all over, blasting it to left field for a three run home run. That put the Twins in the lead at 3-2.
In the 4th, the Twins added to that lead. Eddie Rosario and Byron Buxton lead off with singles, and Dozier reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases with 0 outs. Kepler hit a grounder and beat the double play for an RBI. Sano slapped a single to right to drive in another run, his 4th RBI of the day. Of course, Joe Mauer hit into a double play, politely ending the inning.
The Royals got one back in the 5th off of Phil Hughes on a solo home run by Lorenzo Cain, making the score 5-3 Twins.
The Miguel Sano’s answered back in the top of the 6th, after Dozier hit a “double” (a pop up no one could catch) and Sano hit another RBI (his 5th) single to right.
Phil Hughes had been pitching OK so far, but Salvador Perez lead off the 6th with a double. Phil got the next two batters out, but back-to-back singles scored Perez from 2nd and his day was done. Ryan Pressly threw 1 pitch to get the third out in the inning. I think Hughes probably should have been pulled sooner. Twins 6, Royals 4.
Taylor Rogers and Matt Belisle threw perfect 7th and 8th innings. The Twins threatened in the 8th, but didn’t score.
In the 9th, the Twins added an insurance run on an error by Mike Moustakas.
Brandon Kintzler came in for the save, and, despite a 2 out solo home run by Whit Merrifield, was able to hold the Royals down and finish the game.
Studs:
Miguel Sano (duh): 3-5, HR, 5 RBI
Max Kepler: 1-3, 2 BB, R
Byron Buxton: 1-3, BB, 2 R
Polanco, Vargas, Dozier: All had 2 hits, bloopy or not.
Duds:
NO DUDS TWINS WIN.
ROBOT ROLL CALL:
| # | Commenter | # Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | badcoffee | 62 |
| 2 | SooFoo Fan | 41 |
| 3 | CG19 | 39 |
| 4 | Brandon Brooks | 30 |
| 5 | Joel Hernandez | 30 |
| 6 | less cowbell, more 'neau | 27 |
| 7 | James Fillmore | 27 |
| 8 | TwinsDingers | 25 |
| 9 | Devereaux | 24 |
| 10 | Gunnarthor | 18 |
| 11 | wayback | 16 |
| 12 | Name-Game | 14 |
| 13 | blackmankitteh | 11 |
| 14 | Imakesandwichesforaliving | 11 |
| 15 | Asthix | 9 |
| 16 | Kyle Edelbrock | 9 |
| 17 | Nick Rothe | 9 |
| 18 | Theo77 | 3 |
| 19 | gonzobob | 3 |
| 20 | Lestermilk | 2 |
| 21 | AdoreAdorno | 2 |
| 22 | NoahRJ | 2 |
| 23 | Daniel Carlson | 2 |
| 24 | Ton Brady Quinn in The Fly 2 | 2 |
| 25 | MNWildcat | 1 |
| 26 | Will Ragatz | 1 |
| 27 | Caleb A | 1 |
COTG: MNWildcat, Imakesandwichesforaliving, and this thread.