Twins

Twins Take Step Back in Sweep by Royals

Jul 22, 2018; Kansas City, MO, USA; Minnesota Twins catcher Mitch Garver (23) can't make the tag as Kansas City Royals catcher Drew Butera (9) scores on a three run home run in the seventh inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

After a 9-2 homestand, the Twins needed to keep the momentum they gathered entering the second half of the season; a three-game series sweep by the last-place Kansas City Royals was “a pretty big stumble.”

Lucas Duda owned the Twins on Friday. In the first inning he drove in two runs on a single to left, and in the sixth, he hit a solo home run to extend the Royals lead. The Twins rallied for three runs in the ninth but fell short, losing 6-5.

On Saturday, the two Eddies — Eddie Rosario and Eduardo Escobar — each drove in a run on a single. The pair of RBI singles wasn’t enough as the Twins fell 4-2.

On Sunday, tied 2-2 in the seventh, Jake Cave dove for and missed a sinking line drive hit by former Twins catcher Drew Butera. The ball continued to roll to the wall, allowing Butera to hit an inside-the-park three-run home run. The three runs were enough as the Royals held on to win 5-3 and clinch the series sweep of the Twins.

Twins bats were quiet again

Coming into the series, the Twins appeared to be in a position to run up the score against a team that owned MLB’s worst team ERA and WHIP. That didn’t happen as the Twins managed only 10 runs on 20 hits in the three games combined.

The Royals starters, in particular, came into Friday with a collective ERA above 5.20. The Twins scored just five runs against the Royals starters in the series.

The series looked close based solely on the final scores due to the Twins’ multiple mini-rallies in the later innings. From the seventh inning on this series, the Twins scored six of their 10 runs.

Joe Mauer’s milestone double

Leading off Saturday’s game, Joe Mauer drove a Jake Junis pitch to left center for a double. The two-base hit put Mauer alone at the top of the Twins franchise doubles list. He was tied with Kirby Puckett before with 414 doubles coming into Saturday.

Jake Odorizzi turned in the best start

Odorizzi, who has had his struggles this season, gave the Twins a chance to win and salvage the series.

He went six strong innings, giving up one earned run on two hits and one walk. Aside from Danny Duffey’s start for the Royals on Friday, Odorizzi delivered the best start by any starter.

Notes

  • After Sunday’s game, the Twins sent Alan Busenitz down to Triple-A and called up Adalberto Mejia to start Monday’s game. Mejia last pitched for the Twins on June 30 against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
  • Ervin Santana will make his season debut for the Twins on Wednesday. He has been on the disabled list all season recovering from a finger injury.
  • The Twins will travel north of the border to face the Toronto Blue Jays. Here are the probable starters for the three-game series:
    • Adalberto Mejia (0-0, 9.00 ERA) vs Luis Santos (0-0, 7.88 ERA) – Monday
    • Jose Berrios (9-7, 3.68 ERA) vs Ryan Borucki (0-1, 3.52 ERA) – Tuesday
    • Ervin Santana (Season Debut) vs TBD – Wednesday

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Jul 22, 2018; Kansas City, MO, USA; Minnesota Twins catcher Mitch Garver (23) can't make the tag as Kansas City Royals catcher Drew Butera (9) scores on a three run home run in the seventh inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

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