Royals 8, Twins 6: Missed opportunities

Martin Perez got the start for the Twins today, and opened with a clean first inning. The 2nd inning, however, was not-so-clean. Jorge Soler led off with a walk, followed by two singles to score the first run of the game. Martin Maldonaldo followed with a 1-out RBI single to right and Whit Merrifield picked up an RBI of his own with 2 outs. Adalberto Mondesi flew out to center to end the threat, with the Royals leading 3-0 and Perez’s pitch count elevated.

The Twins got their first runs in the 4th inning. Miguel Sano hit a solo home run into the shrubbery in center field. Marwin Gonzalez reached first on a hit-by-pitch, and then Jonathan Schoop hit a single. With 2 outs, Max Kepler delivered a big 2-out RBI single to bring the score to 3-2. This led to Jorge Polanco being intentionally walked, but Nelson Cruz struck out to end the inning.

After his shaky 3rd inning, Martin Perez proceeded to pitch the next 3 innings perfectly. The 7th, however, was not perfect. Nicky Lopez hit a 1-out single, and then Maldonaldo hit a liner to Eddie Rosario that he couldn’t field (ruled a single), moving Lopez to 3rd. Billy Hamilton dropped down a sac-bunt, scoring Lopez from 3rd, and got a hit out of it.

Merrifield lined out, and that ended Perez’s day, as Rocco brought in Mike Morin to face Mondesi. He hit a grounder to 3rd, but Sano booted it, allowing another run to score (E5). Alex Gordon lined out, with the score sitting at 5-2.

The got a run back in the 7th off a Nelson Cruz solo homer, but left the bases loaded to end the inning.

In the 8th, the Royals scored 3 more runs, aided by another Twins error (by Morin), two RBI doubles, and an RBI single.

After Matt Magill’s scoreless top of the 9th, the Twins got the winning run to the plate in Nelson Cruz but he struck out on a check swing to end it. The Royals salvage a game from this series, while the Twins fall to 47-23. Up next are the Red Sox (39-34) tomorrow at 7:10 PM CDT.

Studs:

Max Kepler: 4-6, 2 2B, 2 RBI

Nelson Cruz: 2-5, BB, 2B, HR, 3 RBI

Duds:

The Twins had 15 hits today, but left the same number of men on base. They left the bases loaded 3 times. At the same time, they gave up 8 runs, but only 4 were earned.

Thanks for joining us, everyone. Happy Father’s day.

Roll Call: