GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: MINNESOTA (57-54) at KANSAS CITY (48-62)

AL: MINNESOTA (57-54) at KANSAS CITY (48-62)

<h3>Morneau, Twins look to get offense rolling</h3>

<div class="pre">Minnesota (57-54) at Kansas City (48-62) 8:10 pm EDT</div>

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- Justin Morneau will hope to putan end to his recent struggles when the Minnesota Twins visitthe Kansas City Twins in the opener of a three-game seriesTuesday.


Morneau is 1-for-19 (.053) over his last five games, andMinnesota has managed just nine runs over that stretch. Thereigning American League MVP, who is batting .286 with 28 homeruns and 89 RBI on the season, was dropped down to fifth in theorder, behind Michael Cuddyer, in Monday's 4-0 setback to theCleveland Indians.


Minnesota, which fell to 5 1/2 games behind Cleveland in theAmerican League Central, will send Boof Bonser (5-7, 4.61 ERA)to the mound. The 25-year-old righthander has not won sinceJune 10, going 0-5 record with a 5.13 ERA in nine starts overthat span.


He will be opposed by Brian Bannister (7-6, 3.45), who yieldedthree runs and eight hits in a 5-3 victory over the Twins onWednesday. Bannister has given up just four runs over 21innings in his previous three starts.


The Royals have lost three straight games and five of their lastsix.

 

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 .260 3 27 David Dejesus CF .283 6 47
Joe Mauer C .303 5 47 Mark Grudzielanek 2B .308 5 37
Michael Cuddyer RF .286 10 58 Mark Teahen RF .284 5 47
Justin Morneau 1B .286 28 89 Billy Butler DH .301 4 31
Torii Hunter CF .288 22 75 Ross Gload 1B .295 4 36
Jason Kubel LF .250 9 44 Alex Gordon 3B .240 8 37
Rondell White DH .138 0 2 John Buck C .231 16 36
Luis Rodriguez 3B .190 2 7 Joey Gathright LF .352 0 10
Alexi Casilla 2B .238 0 5 Tony Pena Jr SS .277 1 38

Boof Bonser RHP (5-7, 4.61) Brian Bannister RHP (7-6, 3.45)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY
WARMUPS: MIN - BOOF BONSER (5-7, 4.61)
KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER (7-6, 3.45)

UMPIRES: HP - BRIAN GORMAN
1B - PAUL NAUERT
2B - MIKE EVERITT
3B - GERRY DAVIS

WEATHER: 94 Degrees, partly cloudy
WIND: 4 mph, right to left</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY
STARTING BATS: MIN - BOOF BONSER AND JOE MAUER
KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER AND JOHN BUCK

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J BARTLETT (.260, 3 HR, 27 RBI)
J MAUER (.303, 5 HR, 47 RBI)
M CUDDYER (.286, 10 HR, 58 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - BOOF BONSER
KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: D DEJESUS (.283, 6 HR, 47 RBI)
M GRUDZIELANEK (.308, 5 HR, 37 RBI)
M TEAHEN (.284, 5 HR, 47 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
J Kubel lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
R White dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .138
L Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190
A Casilla 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
M Grudzielanek 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
M Teahen rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
B Butler dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
R Gload 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .352
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bonser 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.61

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bannister 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.42

Pitches-strikes: B Bannister 11-7. Ground balls-fly balls: B Bannister 2-1.
Batters faced: B Bannister 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Gerry
Davis.

Weather: 94 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY
CONFIRMED STARTERS: MIN - BOOF BONSER
KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY ROSS GLOAD SCORED MARK TEAHEN.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R GLOAD ON SECOND, B BUTLER ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 0
KANSAS CITY 1 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: A GORDON (.240, 8 HR, 37 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - BOOF BONSER
KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.286, 28 HR, 89 RBI)
T HUNTER (.288, 22 HR, 75 RBI)
J KUBEL (.250, 9 HR, 44 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
J Kubel lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
R White dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .138
L Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190
A Casilla 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
M Teahen rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .285
B Butler dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .305
R Gload 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .299
A Gordon 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .239
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .352
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277

Totals 6 1 3 1 0 0 2

BATTING: 2B - R Gload (16, B Bonser). RBI - R Gload (37). 2-out RBI - R Gload.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Gordon 2. Team LOB - 2.


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

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bonser 1 3 1 1 0 0 0 4.64

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bannister 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.42

Pitches-strikes: B Bonser 19-12; B Bannister 11-7. Ground balls-fly balls: B
Bonser 3-0; B Bannister 2-1. Batters faced: B Bonser 6; B Bannister 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Gerry
Davis.

Weather: 94 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY TORII HUNTER SCORED JUSTIN MORNEAU.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, T HUNTER ON SECOND, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 1
KANSAS CITY 1 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J KUBEL (.250, 9 HR, 44 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - BOOF BONSER
KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: J BUCK (.231, 16 HR, 36 RBI)
J GATHRIGHT (.352, 0 HR, 10 RBI)
T PENA JR (.277, 1 HR, 38 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
J Morneau 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .288
T Hunter cf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .290
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .249
R White dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .167
L Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .188
A Casilla 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238

Totals 8 1 3 1 0 0 3

BATTING: 2B - J Morneau (21, B Bannister); T Hunter (31, B Bannister). RBI - T
Hunter (76). GIDP - L Rodriguez. Team LOB - 1.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
M Teahen rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .285
B Butler dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .305
R Gload 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .299
A Gordon 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .239
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .352
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277

Totals 6 1 3 1 0 0 2

BATTING: 2B - R Gload (16, B Bonser). RBI - R Gload (37). 2-out RBI - R Gload.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Gordon 2. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (B Bannister-T Pena Jr-R Gload).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 01 -- 1
KANSAS CITY - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bonser 1 3 1 1 0 0 0 4.64

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bannister 2 3 1 1 0 0 0 3.47

Pitches-strikes: B Bonser 19-12; B Bannister 30-19. Ground balls-fly balls: B
Bonser 3-0; B Bannister 4-2. Batters faced: B Bonser 6; B Bannister 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Gerry
Davis.

Weather: 94 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - BOOF BONSER
KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: A CASILLA (.238, 0 HR, 5 RBI)
J BARTLETT (.259, 0-FOR-1)
J MAUER (.302, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
J Morneau 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .288
T Hunter cf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .290
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .249
R White dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .167
L Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .188
A Casilla 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238

Totals 8 1 3 1 0 0 3

BATTING: 2B - J Morneau (21, B Bannister); T Hunter (31, B Bannister). RBI - T
Hunter (76). GIDP - L Rodriguez. Team LOB - 1.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
M Teahen rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .285
B Butler dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .305
R Gload 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .299
A Gordon 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .239
J Buck c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230
J Gathright lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .348
T Pena Jr ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277

Totals 9 1 3 1 0 1 2

BATTING: 2B - R Gload (16, B Bonser). RBI - R Gload (37). 2-out RBI - R Gload.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Gordon 2. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (B Bannister-T Pena Jr-R Gload).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 01 -- 1
KANSAS CITY - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bonser 2 3 1 1 0 1 0 4.60

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bannister 2 3 1 1 0 0 0 3.47

Pitches-strikes: B Bonser 37-27; B Bannister 30-19. Ground balls-fly balls: B
Bonser 4-1; B Bannister 4-2. Batters faced: B Bonser 9; B Bannister 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Gerry
Davis.

Weather: 94 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - BOOF BONSER
KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: D DEJESUS (.282, 0-FOR-1)
M GRUDZIELANEK (.307, 0-FOR-1)
M TEAHEN (.285, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .259
J Mauer c 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
J Morneau 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .288
T Hunter cf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .290
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .249
R White dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .167
L Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .188
A Casilla 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .238

Totals 10 1 3 1 1 0 4

BATTING: 2B - J Morneau (21, B Bannister); T Hunter (31, B Bannister). RBI - T
Hunter (76). GIDP - L Rodriguez, J Bartlett. Team LOB - 1.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
M Teahen rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .285
B Butler dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .305
R Gload 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .299
A Gordon 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .239
J Buck c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230
J Gathright lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .348
T Pena Jr ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277

Totals 9 1 3 1 0 1 2

BATTING: 2B - R Gload (16, B Bonser). RBI - R Gload (37). 2-out RBI - R Gload.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Gordon 2. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 2 (B Bannister-T Pena Jr-R Gload, T Pena Jr-R Gload).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 010 -- 1
KANSAS CITY - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bonser 2 3 1 1 0 1 0 4.60

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bannister 3 3 1 1 1 0 0 3.44

Pitches-strikes: B Bonser 37-27; B Bannister 39-23. Ground balls-fly balls: B
Bonser 4-1; B Bannister 6-3. Batters faced: B Bonser 9; B Bannister 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Gerry
Davis.

Weather: 94 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY MARK GRUDZIELANEK SCORED DAVID DEJESUS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 1
KANSAS CITY 2 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: M TEAHEN (.285, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - BOOF BONSER
KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M CUDDYER (.285, 0-FOR-1)
J MORNEAU (.288, 1-FOR-1)
T HUNTER (.290, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</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 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .259
J Mauer c 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
J Morneau 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .288
T Hunter cf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .290
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .249
R White dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .167
L Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .188
A Casilla 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .238

Totals 10 1 3 1 1 0 4

BATTING: 2B - J Morneau (21, B Bannister); T Hunter (31, B Bannister). RBI - T
Hunter (76). GIDP - L Rodriguez, J Bartlett. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - M Cuddyer (3, bobble).


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .284
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .307
M Teahen rf 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .287
B Butler dh 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .303
R Gload 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .299
A Gordon 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .239
J Buck c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230
J Gathright lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .348
T Pena Jr ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277

Totals 12 2 5 2 0 1 2

BATTING: 2B - R Gload (16, B Bonser); D DeJesus (25, B Bonser). SF - M
Grudzielanek. RBI - R Gload (37), M Grudzielanek (38). 2-out RBI - R Gload.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Gordon 2. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: CS - M Teahen (4, 2nd base by B Bonser).

FIELDING: DP: 2 (B Bannister-T Pena Jr-R Gload, T Pena Jr-R Gload).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 010 -- 1
KANSAS CITY - 101 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bonser 3 5 2 2 0 1 0 4.64

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bannister 3 3 1 1 1 0 0 3.44

Pitches-strikes: B Bonser 47-35; B Bannister 39-23. Ground balls-fly balls: B
Bonser 5-2; B Bannister 6-3. Batters faced: B Bonser 13; B Bannister 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Gerry
Davis.

Weather: 94 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, right to left.</div>