By MATT PIKE
The Kansas City Royals were unable to push across runs, going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position, falling 5-1 to the Minnesota Twins in the series finale between the AL Central rivals, but still claiming a series win as their three game win streak was snapped.
Looking to bounce back from his rough opening day start in which he gave up four runs in four innings on eight hits, struggling with command and surrendering four walks to the Atlanta Braves, Cole Ragans took the mound and put together a quality start in the finale, giving up just one run through six innings of work.
And that run was unearned, as in the second inning Kody Clemens singled and advanced to second on a throw from right field that snagged Victor Caratini at third base, after Caratini led off the inning with a single. With two outs, after Josh Bell struck out, with a 1-2 count on Royce Lewis, Clemens seemed to begin to walk back towards the dugout, Salvador Perez noticing and rushing the throw, causing him to overthrow second baseman Jonathan India, sending the ball into center field and allowing Clemens to score for the 1-0 Twins lead.
After the rare mistake from Perez, Ragans settled in allowing just one more hit through the next four innings, leaving with a quality start in the seventh and being replaced by Matt Strahm who threw another hitless inning, striking out two. Through three relief appearances Strahm has allowed just one hit thus far.
Minnesota extended it's lead in the top of the eighth off of John Schreiber, Byron Buxton driving in Bell with the bases loaded. In the bottom half, Kansas City scored it's only run, threatening to tie the game after back to back singles by Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr, putting runners on the corners. Vinnie Pasquantino drove in Garcia with a sacrifice fly, but Witt Jr would be out at second on a grounder from Perez, and Jac Caglianone struck out to end the inning with the Royals down 2-1.
The Twins put the game away in the ninth inning off of Steven Cruz. Cruz surrendered a lead off home run to Matt Wallner, and then after forcing Caratini to ground out, gave up two more home runs back to back to Clemens and Bell, bouncing back to strike out Lewis and getting Tristan Grey to pop out to end the top of the ninth with Kansas City down 5-1. India reached on an error and Isaac Collins singled to start the bottom half, but a double play from Lane Thomas and Kyle Isbel striking out ended the game.
Ragans, despite the effecient bounceback performance, took the loss falling to 0-2 on the season, pitching six innings and giving up one unearned run on four hits, walking one while striking out eight, lowering his ERA to 3.60. At the plate, Garcia was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Collins was also 1-for-3 with a walk.
Kansas City stays at Kauffman Stadium tomorrow to host the Milwaukee Brewers. Michael Wacha (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 7K's) will take the mound for the Royals against Chad Patrick (0-0, 2.08 ERA, 4K's) for the Brewers. First pitch is at 6:40pm, pregame will air at 6 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
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