Minnesota Twins Game Grades: Nolasco’s Rough Start Leads to Loss
Minnesota Twins fail to overcome another bad start, drop to 22 games below .500
And that’s why the Kansas City Royals are the champs.
After allowing the Minnesota Twins (11-33) to take an early 2-1 lead off a Joe Mauer homer and Robbie Grossman RBI single, the Royals (23-21) responded by scoring five unanswered off Ricky Nolasco who continued his downward spiral of now six straight starts with four or more runs allowed.
A short rain delay didn’t slow down Ian Kennedy as the Royals won game one of the series, 10-4.
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Down 2-1, the Royals tied things up with a sacrifice fly by Omar Infante and then took the lead for good with a four-run third inning capped off by a two-run single by Jarrod Dyson.
From there, the Twins weren’t able to get much going as the lead continued to grow for the Royals and Kennedy continued to pitch very well.
Trevor Plouffe had a three-hit night as did Mauer who hit a first-inning home run but it was all in vain.
The Royals tacked on two more runs in the ninth after Kevin Jepsen gave up three straight two-out hits.
4. 2. Final. 10. 7
OFFENSE . B+. 12 hits, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts, 1 home run. Yet again, a valiant effort as the Twins put together a dozen hits including three-hit nights by Mauer and Plouffe but a tough night as the Twins found themselves down early. After Nolasco exited allowing six runs, the Twins continued to fight back but ran into the Royals’ very good bullpen. The Twins ultimately got a pair of runs off of the bullpen which is a minor victory but clearly not enough. . . Joe Mauer
. Ricky Nolasco. STARTERS . F. Team totals: 8 hits allowed, 2 walks, 6 earned runs, 3 strikeouts. Last week it was <a href=
. Taylor Rogers. RELIEVERS . C. Team totals: 9 hits allowed, 0 walks, 4 earned runs, 7 strikeouts. Rogers had a strong outing, going two innings, allowing just one hit and no runs. Between Rogers, Kintzler and <a href=
Brandon Kintzler. DEFENSE . B+. <a href=.
Next: Twins/Royals Series Preview
MVT: Joe Mauer
The Twins will face off with the Kansas City Royals in game two of the series on Tuesday at Target Field. Ervin Santana (1-2, 3.13) will be asked to beat his former team who will send Edinson Volquez (4-4, 3.79) to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM CST.