The Royals got on the board first tonight against Joe Ryan. A pair of singles followed by a sac-fly RBI by Salvador Perez got the job done. Then, Michael Massey ripped a double to left-center to make it 2-0, Royals.
The Twins, who struggled against Randy Dobnak the last time they faced him, continued those struggles tonight. They finally got a run in the 4th inning after loading the bases with 1-out, on an Alan Roden sac-fly. Luke Keaschall would ground out to end the threat, however.
In the bottom
of the 5th, the Royals, with the help of bad Twins defense, put together a 3-run inning. With 1 out, they got a single and a walk, then Bobby Witt Jr. doubled, scoring two. Witt would move to 3rd as Ryan Kreidler’s throw home sailed over Ryan Jeffers’ head. Witt then scored on the next at bat, on a grounder to 1st, beating the throw home by Royce Lewis. That gave the Royals a 5-1 lead.
It was a third rough start in a row by Joe Ryan, who exited after getting 1 out in the 6th and walking Isaac Collins. His final line was: 5.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K. His stuff just doesn’t seem to be getting him enough strikeouts lately. Kody Funderburk did a good job, cleaning up the 6th inning and tossing a clean 7th as well.
In the top of the 8th, finally working against the Royals bullpen, Josh Bell made some noise with a leadoff solo homer, his 14th of the year. Alas, no rally was sparked by this rally killer.
Travis Adams was tasked with the 8th inning. Perez doubled, then, after a fly out, Nick Loftin walked. Then Collins grounded out to 3B. Taylor Rogers entered, the Royals countered with pinch hitter Starling Marte, who hit a 2-run double to center. Then Kyle Isbel hit an RBI single to make it an 8-2 game, and that was the final. Another disappointing game for a team that bought at the deadline.
Studs:
Royce Lewis: 4-4, 2B, great leaping catch
Kody Funderburk: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 K
Duds:
Joe Ryan: 5.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Ryan Kreidler: 0-3, K, E
Ryan Jeffers: 0-5, K
Brooks Lee: 0-3, BB, K, E
Travis Adams: 0.2 IP, H, 2 ER, BB
Taylor Rogers: 0.1 IP, 2 H, ER, BB
