GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: MINNESOTA (71-73) at KANSAS CITY (62-81)

AL: MINNESOTA (71-73) at KANSAS CITY (62-81)

<h3>Twins' Baker aims to shut down Royals again</h3>

Minnesota (71-73) at Kansas City (62-81) 8:10 pm EDT

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- Scott Baker flirted withperfection the last time he faced the Kansas City Royals. Heaims for a similar result Tuesday when the Minnesota Twinscontinue their three-game series against the Royals.

Baker (8-7, 4.14 ERA) carried a perfect game into the ninthinning against Kansas City on August 31, but walked the leadoffhitter and then lost his no-hitter by allowing a one-out singleto Mike Sweeney.


Baker also beat the Royals on July 30, limiting them to two hitsin eight innings. The righthander did not fare as well in hislast start, when he allowed three runs and 11 hits inWednesday's 6-2 loss to Cleveland.


Kansas City, which has lost five straight contests, counterswith Kyle Davies (2-4, 5.97), who has just one win in his lastfive starts.


The Twins won Monday's series opener, 4-2, as Justin Morneau andJason Kubel each drove in a pair of runs.

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA AT KANSAS CITY -- LINEUPS

MINNESOTA KANSAS CITY
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Jason Bartlett SS .273 5 40 David Dejesus CF .266 6 54
Jason Kubel DH .268 11 60 Mark Grudzielanek 2B .300 5 46
Joe Mauer C .292 5 53 Mark Teahen RF .286 6 54
Torii Hunter CF .290 28 99 Mike Sweeney DH .264 7 35
Justin Morneau 1B .282 29 104 Alex Gordon 3B .252 14 57
Michael Cuddyer RF .276 13 73 Billy Butler 1B .299 6 44
Jason Tyner LF .299 1 21 Joey Gathright LF .321 0 16
Luis Rodriguez 3B .223 2 11 Jason Larue C .141 4 12
Alexi Casilla 2B .244 0 9 Tony Pena Jr SS .256 1 41

Scott Baker RHP (8-7, 4.14) Kyle Davies RHP (2-4, 5.97)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY
WARMUPS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER (8-7, 4.14)
KAN - KYLE DAVIES (2-4, 5.97)

UMPIRES: HP - LARRY PONCINO
1B - BRIAN KNIGHT
2B - JERRY MEALS
3B - GARY DARLING

WEATHER: 75 Degrees, clear
WIND: 7 mph, left to right</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY
STARTING BATS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER AND JOE MAUER
KAN - KYLE DAVIES AND JASON LARUE

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J BARTLETT (.273, 5 HR, 40 RBI)
J KUBEL (.268, 11 HR, 60 RBI)
J MAUER (.292, 5 HR, 53 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
ERROR BY BILLY BUTLER ALLOWED JASON BARTLETT TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J MAUER ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 1
KANSAS CITY 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: T HUNTER (.290, 28 HR, 99 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 1 1 0 0
KANSAS CITY 0 0 1 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER
KAN - KYLE DAVIES

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: D DEJESUS (.266, 6 HR, 54 RBI)
M GRUDZIELANEK (.300, 5 HR, 46 RBI)
M TEAHEN (.286, 6 HR, 54 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (1) VS KANSAS CITY (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .273
J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .267
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .289
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281
M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
J Tyner lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
L Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223
A Casilla 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244

Totals 4 1 0 0 1 1 3

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
M Grudzielanek 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
M Teahen rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
M Sweeney dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
B Butler 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321
J LaRue c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .141
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - B Butler (3, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 1 -- 1
KANSAS CITY - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.14

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
K Davies 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 6.06

Pitches-strikes: K Davies 16-9. Ground balls-fly balls: K Davies 0-2. Batters
faced: K Davies 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Brian Knight. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Gary
Darling.

Weather: 75 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY
CONFIRMED STARTERS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER
KAN - KYLE DAVIES</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 1 1 0 0
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 1 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER
KAN - KYLE DAVIES

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M CUDDYER (.276, 13 HR, 73 RBI)
J TYNER (.299, 1 HR, 21 RBI)
L RODRIGUEZ (.223, 2 HR, 11 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (1) VS KANSAS CITY (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .273
J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .267
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .289
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281
M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
J Tyner lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
L Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223
A Casilla 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244

Totals 4 1 0 0 1 1 3

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .285
M Sweeney dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
B Butler 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321
J LaRue c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .141
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - B Butler (3, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 1 -- 1
KANSAS CITY - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.11

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
K Davies 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 5.79

Pitches-strikes: S Baker 11-8; K Davies 16-9. Ground balls-fly balls: S Baker
1-1; K Davies 0-2. Batters faced: S Baker 3; K Davies 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Brian Knight. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Gary
Darling.

Weather: 75 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 1 0 1 0 0
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 1 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER
KAN - KYLE DAVIES

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: M SWEENEY (.264, 7 HR, 35 RBI)
A GORDON (.252, 14 HR, 57 RBI)
B BUTLER (.299, 6 HR, 44 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (1) VS KANSAS CITY (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .273
J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .267
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .289
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281
M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .276
J Tyner lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297
L Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .221
A Casilla 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244

Totals 6 1 0 0 2 2 4

BATTING: GIDP - J Tyner. Team LOB - 1.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .285
M Sweeney dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
B Butler 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321
J LaRue c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .141
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - B Butler (3, ground ball). DP: 1 (M Grudzielanek-T Pena Jr-B
Butler).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 10 -- 1
KANSAS CITY - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.11

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
K Davies 2 0 1 0 2 2 0 5.61

Pitches-strikes: S Baker 11-8; K Davies 34-19. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Baker 1-1; K Davies 2-2. Batters faced: S Baker 3; K Davies 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Brian Knight. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Gary
Darling.

Weather: 75 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND OUT BY BILLY BUTLER SCORED MIKE SWEENEY.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A GORDON ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 1
KANSAS CITY 1 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: J GATHRIGHT (.321, 0 HR, 16 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JASON LARUE SCORED ALEX GORDON.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J LARUE ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 1
KANSAS CITY 2 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: T PENA JR (.256, 1 HR, 41 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 1 0 1 0 1
KANSAS CITY 0 2 2 4 1 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER
KAN - KYLE DAVIES

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: A CASILLA (.244, 0 HR, 9 RBI)
J BARTLETT (.273, 0-FOR-0, BB)
J KUBEL (.267, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (1) VS KANSAS CITY (2) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .273
J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .267
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .289
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281
M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .276
J Tyner lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297
L Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .221
A Casilla 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244

Totals 6 1 0 0 2 2 4

BATTING: GIDP - J Tyner. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - A Casilla (8, ground ball).


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .265
M Grudzielanek 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .299
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .285
M Sweeney dh 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .267
A Gordon 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .254
B Butler 1b 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .298
J Gathright lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .319
J LaRue c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .146
T Pena Jr ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .258

Totals 11 2 4 2 0 2 6

BATTING: 2B - A Gordon (32, S Baker). RBI - B Butler (45), J LaRue (13). 2-out
RBI - J LaRue. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Grudzielanek 2. Team
LOB - 3.

FIELDING: E - B Butler (3, ground ball). DP: 1 (M Grudzielanek-T Pena Jr-B
Butler).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 10 -- 1
KANSAS CITY - 02 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 2 4 2 2 0 2 0 4.22

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
K Davies 2 0 1 0 2 2 0 5.61

Pitches-strikes: S Baker 32-23; K Davies 34-19. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Baker 3-1; K Davies 2-2. Batters faced: S Baker 11; K Davies 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Brian Knight. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Gary
Darling.

Weather: 75 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 1 0 0 1 1 1
KANSAS CITY 0 2 2 4 1 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER
KAN - KYLE DAVIES

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: M TEAHEN (.285, 0-FOR-1)
M SWEENEY (.267, 1-FOR-1)
A GORDON (.254, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (1) VS KANSAS CITY (2) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 .273
J Kubel dh 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .269
J Mauer c 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .290
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .289
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281
M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .276
J Tyner lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297
L Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .221
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .242

Totals 10 1 1 0 2 4 5

BATTING: GIDP - J Tyner. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - A Casilla (8, ground ball).


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .265
M Grudzielanek 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .299
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .285
M Sweeney dh 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .267
A Gordon 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .254
B Butler 1b 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .298
J Gathright lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .319
J LaRue c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .146
T Pena Jr ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .258

Totals 11 2 4 2 0 2 6

BATTING: 2B - A Gordon (32, S Baker). RBI - B Butler (45), J LaRue (13). 2-out
RBI - J LaRue. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Grudzielanek 2. Team
LOB - 3.

FIELDING: E - B Butler (3, ground ball). DP: 1 (M Grudzielanek-T Pena Jr-B
Butler).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 100 -- 1
KANSAS CITY - 02 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 2 4 2 2 0 2 0 4.22

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
K Davies 3 1 1 0 2 4 0 5.45

Pitches-strikes: S Baker 32-23; K Davies 53-33. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Baker 3-1; K Davies 3-2. Batters faced: S Baker 11; K Davies 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Brian Knight. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Gary
Darling.

Weather: 75 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 1 0 0 1 1 1
KANSAS CITY 0 2 0 2 5 1 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER
KAN - KYLE DAVIES

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: T HUNTER (.289, 0-FOR-1)
J MORNEAU (.281, 0-FOR-1)
M CUDDYER (.276, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (1) VS KANSAS CITY (2) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 .273
J Kubel dh 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .269
J Mauer c 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .290
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .289
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281
M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .276
J Tyner lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297
L Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .221
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .242

Totals 10 1 1 0 2 4 5

BATTING: GIDP - J Tyner. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - A Casilla (8, ground ball).


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .265
M Grudzielanek 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .299
M Teahen rf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .285
M Sweeney dh 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 .266
A Gordon 3b 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .255
B Butler 1b 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 .297
J Gathright lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .319
J LaRue c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .146
T Pena Jr ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .258

Totals 15 2 5 2 0 3 7

BATTING: 2B - A Gordon (32, S Baker). RBI - B Butler (45), J LaRue (13). 2-out
RBI - J LaRue. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Grudzielanek 2. Team
LOB - 4.

FIELDING: E - B Butler (3, ground ball). DP: 1 (M Grudzielanek-T Pena Jr-B
Butler).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 100 -- 1
KANSAS CITY - 020 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 3 5 2 2 0 3 0 4.19

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
K Davies 3 1 1 0 2 4 0 5.45

Pitches-strikes: S Baker 46-33; K Davies 53-33. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Baker 3-3; K Davies 3-2. Batters faced: S Baker 15; K Davies 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Brian Knight. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Gary
Darling.

Weather: 75 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, left to right.</div>