The Kansas City Royals avoided a sweep in Minnesota, by rallying late to secure a 2-1 win in extra innings. In a stadium, where they had lost 21 of their last 25, it looked like another typical performance from the Royals in Minnesota, but they got enough hits late with runners in scoring position.
Kris Bubic was fantastic once again, tossing 7 innings of 2 hit ball (those two hits were the first two batters of the game), 1 run, 2 walks and 9 more strikeouts. Bubic lowered his season ERA to 1.45, and has placed himself firmly in the AL Cy Young race at the 1⁄3 mark of the season.
The Royals out hit the Twins 9 to 3 today, but they were a dreaded 2-12 on the day with RISP, but those two hits were enough. It was a continuation of a series long problem for the Royals, the inability to get the big hit, as they had plenty of guys on, but they struggled getting them in.
It was fan favorite, Freddy Fermin who tied the game on an 0-2 changeup with 2 down in the top of the 7th, with an RBI double to score Drew Waters. Waters had led off the inning with a double, part of a 3-hit day for him, but was still standing out there during Fermin’s at bat.
Jonathan Bowlan got the first two outs of the 8th, but also allowed a single, so with the top of the order coming up, manager Matt Quatraro went with closer Carlos Estevez, who would end the inning by Fermin throwing out a base stealer.
Estevez would get a 1-2-3 bottom of the 9th to send the games to extras at 1-1. He struck out a pair and got Royal killer Ty France to pop out.
Nick Loftin started the top of the 10th on second for the Royals, he would still be out there after Massey struck out and Fermin grounded out to third to start the inning. But on an 0-2 pitch, off Twins closer Jhoan Duran, Garcia would single to left. Third base coach Vance Wilson took a chance, especially with the Royals making a lot of outs on the bases lately and sent the flying Loftin to score. Loftin would slide in feet first before the throw that would get away from the catcher Ryan Jeffers. Loftin would let out a loud “F yeah” after scoring the run.
With Lucas Erceg and John Schreiber unavailable after throwing the first two games of the series, and Estevez getting the last 4 outs, Taylor Clarke came in to try and get the save.
Clarke would get a pop out, walk a batter, a fielder choice that made it first and third with 2 down. A near errant pickoff throw to first, was saved by Pasquantino, who knocked it down, Bader, the runner on first would steal second on the next pitch. On a 1-2 pitch, Brooks Lee, the hero in yesterday’s contest, would again hit one back up the middle, but with what happened yesterday, the Royals were properly aligned defensively, and Bobby Witt Jr. would throw him out and the Royals would win it 2-1.
The Reds come to Kansas City for a 3-game set, starting tomorrow afternoon at 3:10, before 2-night contests on Tuesday and Wednesday. I’ll be at the Tuesday game, when Brady Singer starts for the first time as an opponent in Kauffman Stadium. The Royals are 29-25 on the season, which puts them on an 87-win pace, a one game improvement from last year. It was a 3-3 road trip, which isn’t too shabby against two good opponents.