Kansas City, MO (SportsNetwork.com) – Mike Pelfrey and two Twins relievers
combined for a six-hit shutout as Minnesota salvaged its three-game series in
Kansas City with a 3-0 win over the Royals.
Pelfrey (1-0) scattered five hits and two walks, while Casey Fien and Glen
Perkins each tossed a scoreless inning of relief to finish off the shutout.
Brian Dozier went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the victors.
Jeremy Guthrie (1-1) labored through five innings, allowing three runs on six
hits and six walks as the Royals had their three-game winning streak snapped.
All of Minnesota’s runs came with one out in the first inning. After an errant
pickoff attempt left runners at second and third, Dozier and Kennys Vargas
both laced run-scoring singles. Trevor Plouffe worked a walk to load the
bases, and Guthrie nicked Oswaldo Arcia on the elbow to force in a run.
Guthrie limited the damage by getting Kurt Suzuki on a 6-4-3 double play, then
survived another bases-loaded jam in the second when Torii Hunter tried
stealing home. Guthrie was facing the left-handed hitting Vargas in the windup
as Hunter broke for the plate. Salvador Perez caught Guthrie’s quick throw as
if it were a pitch-out and tug Hunter just before the plate.
Still, the three runs were enough.
The Royals left two on in the first inning, grounded into double plays in the
second and third and left the bases loaded in the fifth when Eric Hosmer
grounded out to first.
They tried rallying in the eighth, something they have done plenty of times
this season, but Arcia made a running catch on the warning track to strand
Hosmer at third.
Perkins tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to record his third save.
Game Notes
Yohan Pino tossed three scoreless innings for the Royals, whose bullpen has
been scored on in just one of its 46 1/3 innings so far this season … The
Royals open a four-game series against the Chicago White Sox starting Thursday
… The Twins are off Thursday before traveling to Seattle for three games vs.
the Mariners.
