Sporting Sota
Fansided

Twins need extras, but stay undefeated against Royals

By Collin Kottke

May 19, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins designated hitter Robbie Grossman (36) hits a home run during the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
May 19, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins designated hitter Robbie Grossman (36) hits a home run during the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Minnesota Twins use a lot of walks in extras to stay undefeated against Kansas City this season.

Get ready for an understatement: home runs are really important in the game of baseball. Home runs accounted for a majority of the scoring plays from Target Field on Friday night. Other than an RBI single for Cheslor Cuthbert to give the Royals a 1-0 lead in the first inning, all other scoring in your regularly scheduled innings were scored via the long ball.

Jorge Bonifacio hit a two-run homer in third to give the Royals a three-run lead. That would be all the offensive damage the Royals would do against Minnesota Twins starter Hector Santiago. Santiago lasted five innings in the contest giving up three earned runs on eight hits and a walk.

Minnesota did finally respond with some offense of their own in the fourth inning, that’s when Robbie Grossman hit his fourth home run of the year making it a 3-1 game. The Twins wouldn’t find any more runs until the ninth.

Nate Karns started on the hill for Kansas City and also only last five innings in the game. Karns only allowed one run on five hits against the Twins.

More from Sporting Sota

Fast-forward to the bottom of the ninth inning. Jorge Polanco struck out swinging to begin the inning against Royal reliever Kelvin Herrera. Jason Castro was second up and singled to center to start some cooking for the home team. Byron Buxton was due up next, but Manager Paul Molitor called on pinch-hitter Kennys Vargas instead. It was a good call.

In his pinch-hit appearance, Vargas smoked the ball to straight-away centerfield and over the centerfield wall to tie the game for the Twins in the bottom of the ninth at 3-3. Brian Dozier would single later in the inning, but the Twins weren’t able to get him around to score.

It only took until the tenth inning for the Twins to down the Royals once again this season. Al Alburquerque started the inning on the mound for Kansas City and wouldn’t get a single out. In fact, Alburquerque walked the two and only men that he faced. Travis Wood came in and proceeded to walk his first man which walked the bases loaded brining Polanco to the plate. Polanco hit a line drive to left field, but it was deep enough to score Joe Mauer from third giving the Twins a walk-off victory by a score of 4-3.

The Twins are now an impressive 6-0 against the Kansas City Royals this season.

What’s next for the Twins?

The Twins and Royals continue their weekend set with game two of the three-game series from Target Field on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 Central.

Next: The big KAT has been big-time snubbed!

Sporting Sota is your home for all things Minnesota sports! From Twins to Vikings to Lynx and more, keep it set to Sporting Sota!

Home/Minnesota Twins