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Today’s lineups:
MIN: Max Kepler CF, Jorge Polanco SS, Luis Arraez 2B, Josh Donaldson 3B, Eddie Rosario LF, Ehire Adrianza 1B, Nelson Cruz DH, Mitch Garver C, Jake Cave RF, Kenta Maeda P
KCR: Nicky Lopez SS, Whit Merrifield 2B, Jorge Soler RF, Hunter Dozier 3B, Ryan O’Hearn DH, Jose Osuna 1B, Brett Phillips CF, Alex Gordon LF, Cam Gallagher C, Brad Keller P
Once upon a time, Dozier driving in five runs, hitting a homer, and propelling his team to victory would have been good for Twins fans. Unfortunately, Brian has moved on, and our division rivals down in Kansas City have Hunter Dozier.
Kenta Maeda was fine today, just fine. He gave up three runs in 5.1 innings, and struck out four. It wasn’t a great outing, but it was solid. Brad Keller (German for cellar, which is where the Royals still dwell) was a little better today, but not unhittable. He struck out seven Twins, and only gave up one run on five hits in five innings.
The Royals’ first round came in the second, as a walk issued to Ryan O’Hearn haunted on Brett Phillips’ RBI single. Their second run came in the third, as the result of back-to-back doubles by Nicky Lopez and Whit Merrifield. The score stayed two-zip unti the bottom of the fifth.
Max Kepler came up after two straight strikeouts in the fifth. Kepler watched a ball, and then sent a frozen rope over the right field wall. Maeda gave the run back in the top of the sixth though. Ryan O’Hearn hit a double, and scored his second run of the night on a single by Jose Osuna. The Royals were up 3-1, both starters had been knocked out, and we haven’t even got to the Hunter Dozier part of the story yet.
Dozier earned an RBI for the remaining five runs the Royals scored. Facing Tyler Clippard in the seventh, with Nicky Lopez on board due to a leadoff triple, Dozier parked a 1-1 pitch into the left field stands. In the ninth, he one-upped himself. Sergio Romo had taken over, and surrendered two hits, putting men on the corners. Dozier took Romo’s first offering to the exact same spot as his previous hit, giving the Royals an 8-1 lead.
The Twins rallied in the ninth—but too little, too late. Nelson Cruz and Jake Cave both drew walks. Jorge Polanco fought off three two-strike pitches before finding one he liked, and hitting it 400 feet into left.
Notes
- The Royals received Osuna from Pittsburgh yesterday, in a a trade that sent Ian Kennedy and MiLB pitcher Jonathan Bowlan to the Pirates.
STUDS:
Max Kepler: 2-5, RBI, HR
Jorge Polanco: 2-3, 3 RBI, HR, BB
Eddie Rosario: 2-3. BB, double
DUDS:
Ehire Adrianza: 0-4, K
Josh Donaldson: 0-5, K
Tyler Clippard and Sergio Romo: 5 runs in 3.2 innings
Tomorrow: Toronto comes to town, first pitch at 7:10 pm