GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: KANSAS CITY (60-74) at MINNESOTA (68-67)

AL: KANSAS CITY at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 4 11 2
MINNESOTA 0 1 0 1 4 0 0 0 6 9 2 (TOP 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - DAVID RISKE
MIN - JOE NATHAN

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: J GATHRIGHT (.321, 0-FOR-4)
M GRUDZIELANEK (.305, 0-FOR-4)
M SWEENEY (.254, 2-FOR-4)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (4) VS MINNESOTA (6) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Gathright cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .321
M Grudzielanek 2b-ss 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .305
M Sweeney dh 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 .254
A Gordon 3b 4 1 1 1 0 1 3 .247
B Butler 1b 4 2 2 0 0 0 2 .300
S Costa rf 4 1 2 2 0 0 0 .210
E Brown lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .245
T Pena Jr ss 3 0 2 1 0 0 1 .260
a-R Gload ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .298
E German 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
J LaRue c 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 .140
b-D DeJesus ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .270
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224

Totals 36 4 11 4 0 4 15

a-flied out to right for T Pena Jr in the 8th; b-grounded to second for J
Larue in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - B Butler 2 (19, P Neshek, C Silva); S Costa 2 (4, P Neshek, C
Silva); J LaRue (8, C Silva); M Sweeney (11, J Rincon). HR - A Gordon (12, 5th
inning off C Silva 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - S Costa 2 (10), T Pena Jr (41), A Gordon
(48). 2-out RBI - T Pena Jr, A Gordon. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- D DeJesus 1, J Gathright 2, A Gordon 1, B Butler 1. Team LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: CS - E Brown (2, 2nd base by C Silva/M Redmond).

FIELDING: E - T Pena Jr (21, throw); J Gathright (2, bobble). DP: 1 (A
Gordon-E German-B Butler).


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner cf 4 0 0 0 1 1 3 .298
J Bartlett ss 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .278
T Hunter dh 4 0 1 1 0 1 0 .296
J Morneau 1b 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 .280
M Cuddyer rf 4 1 1 0 0 1 2 .280
J Kubel lf 3 2 1 1 1 0 0 .262
M Redmond c 3 0 2 2 1 0 0 .295
L Rodriguez 3b 4 1 2 1 0 1 2 .205
N Punto 2b 3 0 1 0 1 0 2 .198

Totals 32 6 9 5 5 5 11

BATTING: 2B - L Rodriguez (4, B Duckworth); T Hunter (39, B Duckworth); M
Redmond (13, N Musser). RBI - L Rodriguez (8), T Hunter (96), J Kubel (52), M
Redmond 2 (38). 2-out RBI - L Rodriguez. Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - M Cuddyer 1, N Punto 2, J Tyner 1. GIDP - J Bartlett. Team LOB - 8.

FIELDING: E - J Bartlett 2 (23, pop up, throw).


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 000 210 01 -- 4
MINNESOTA - 010 140 00 -- 6
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Duckworth 4 1/3 8 6 5 2 2 0 3.79
N Musser 1 2/3 1 0 0 1 3 0 4.50
D Riske 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 2.31

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 6 8 3 3 0 4 1 4.34
J Rincon 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.69
P Neshek 2/3 2 1 1 0 0 0 2.61
J Nathan 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.73

HBP - J Bartlett (by B Duckworth). Pitches-strikes: B Duckworth 70-44; N
Musser 28-18; D Riske 29-13; C Silva 102-71; J Rincon 17-12; P Neshek 15-12; J
Nathan 6-4. Ground balls-fly balls: B Duckworth 4-7; N Musser 0-2; D Riske 4-2;
C Silva 9-4; J Rincon 3-0; P Neshek 0-2; J Nathan 1-0. Batters faced: B
Duckworth 24; N Musser 7; D Riske 7; C Silva 27; J Rincon 4; P Neshek 4; J
Nathan 1.

UMPIRES: HP--Tim Tschida. 1B--Jim Joyce. 2B--Jeff Nelson. 3B--Jim Wolf.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 4 11 2
MINNESOTA 0 1 0 1 4 0 0 0 x 6 9 2 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: KAN - BRANDON DUCKWORTH, NEAL MUSSER (5TH), DAVID RISKE (7TH) AND
JASON LARUE, JOHN BUCK (8TH)

MIN - CARLOS SILVA, JUAN RINCON (7TH), PAT NESHEK
(8TH), JOE NATHAN (8TH) AND MIKE REDMOND

HOME RUNS: KAN - ALEX GORDON (12) OFF CARLOS SILVA IN THE 5TH, 0 ON

MIN - NONE</div>

 

Redmond powers Twins past Royals

<h3>MINNESOTA 6, KANSAS CITY 4</h3>By Anthony Maggio
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer won theAmerican League batting title last season, but the Kansas CityRoyals are likely wishing they could see more of him.

With Mauer nursing a strained left hamstring, backup catcherMike Redmond broke Saturday's game open with a two-run double asthe Twins batted around in a four-run fifth inning en route toa 6-4 victory.


Minnesota starter Carlos Silva bounced back from a rocky outingagainst Cleveland to win for the second time in three starts andMinnesota will look to take three of four games from KansasCity in Sunday's season finale.


Royals starter Brandon Duckworth (2-4), who was activated fromthe 15-day disabled list prior to the game after missing 68games with a left rib cage strain, was given a 3-2 lead by hisoffense heading into the bottom half of the fifth inning. Buthis third start of the season would fall apart from there.

Duckworth, who was moved to the bullpen after two starts tobegin the season before going on the disabled list, hit JasonBartlett to lead off the frame and gave up an RBI double toTorii Hunter down the right-field line. Hunter was erased onJustin Morneau's fielder's choice, but Michael Cuddyer and JasonKubel hit back-to-back singles to give the Twins a 4-3 lead andend Duckworth's day.


Reliever Neal Musser, who was called up for the fifth time thisseason from Class AAA Omaha before the game, came on to faceRedmond. Musser got ahead in the count 1-2, but Redmond rippeda double down the third-base line to bring in a pair of runs andgive the Twins a three-run cushion.


Redmond, who was making his sixth start in seven games sinceMauer was shelved, went 2-for-3 with a walk, improving hisbatting average to .441 with nine RBI in nine games against theRoyals this season. He has two hits in each of his last threestarts overall.


Duckworth allowed six runs - five earned - on eight hits withtwo walks and two strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. He had a 1.59ERA in his other two starts this season.


Silva (11-13) went six innings, allowing three runs on eighthits with no walks and four strikeouts. He has allowed nineearned runs in his last 9 2/3 innings pitched over two starts,but still boasts a 3.15 ERA over his last six outings.

Billy Butler and Shane Costa added back-to-back doubles for thesecond time in the contest off reliever Pat Neshek in the eighthinning to pull the Royals within 6-4. Joe Nathan then enteredthe game and got the final four outs for his 29th save in 31chances.


It was only Nathan's second save this season of more than oneinning. His first came on May 5 against Boston, when he pitched1 1/3 innings.


The Royals put up a pair of runs on Silva in the fourth onback-to-back one-out doubles from Butler and Costa, along withan RBI single from Tony Pena. Alex Gordon supplied KansasCity's third run with a solo home run with two outs in the fifthinning.


Minnesota scored in the second on Luis Rodriguez's RBI doubleand Rodriguez scored the Twins' second run on a Pena throwingerror following Nick Punto's two-out single in the fourth.

Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored after beingcalled up from Class AAA Rochester before the game. He washitting .194 in 108 at-bats for the Twins this season cominginto the contest. Kubel went 1-for-3 with a walk, two runsscored and an RBI.


Butler, Costa, Pena and Mike Sweeney all had two hits apiece forthe Royals, who have lost three of their last four games.

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 4 11 2
MINNESOTA 0 1 0 1 4 0 0 0 x 6 9 2 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: KAN - BRANDON DUCKWORTH, NEAL MUSSER (5TH), DAVID RISKE (7TH) AND
JASON LARUE, JOHN BUCK (8TH)

MIN - CARLOS SILVA, JUAN RINCON (7TH), PAT NESHEK
(8TH), JOE NATHAN (8TH) AND MIKE REDMOND


WP - CARLOS SILVA (11-13)
LP - BRANDON DUCKWORTH (2-4)
SAVE - JOE NATHAN (29)

HOME RUNS: KAN - ALEX GORDON (12) OFF CARLOS SILVA IN THE 5TH, 0 ON

MIN - NONE


TIME: 2:44 ATT: 21,738

PROBABLES: KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER (11-7, 3.27)
MIN - BOOF BONSER (6-11, 4.72)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (4) VS MINNESOTA (6) - FINAL

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Gathright cf 5 0 0 0 0 0 2 .319
M Grudzielanek 2b-ss 5 0 0 0 0 3 1 .305
M Sweeney dh 5 0 2 0 0 1 0 .252
A Gordon 3b 4 1 1 1 0 1 3 .247
B Butler 1b 4 2 2 0 0 0 2 .300
S Costa rf 4 1 2 2 0 0 0 .210
E Brown lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .245
T Pena Jr ss 3 0 2 1 0 0 1 .260
a-R Gload ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .298
E German 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
J LaRue c 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 .140
b-D DeJesus ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .270
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224

Totals 39 4 11 4 0 6 15

a-flied out to right for T Pena Jr in the 8th; b-grounded to second for J
Larue in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - B Butler 2 (19, P Neshek, C Silva); S Costa 2 (4, P Neshek, C
Silva); J LaRue (8, C Silva); M Sweeney (11, J Rincon). HR - A Gordon (12, 5th
inning off C Silva 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - S Costa 2 (10), T Pena Jr (41), A Gordon
(48). 2-out RBI - T Pena Jr, A Gordon. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- D DeJesus 1, J Gathright 2, A Gordon 1, B Butler 1. Team LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: CS - E Brown (2, 2nd base by C Silva/M Redmond).

FIELDING: E - T Pena Jr (21, throw); J Gathright (2, bobble). DP: 1 (A
Gordon-E German-B Butler).


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner cf 4 0 0 0 1 1 3 .298
J Bartlett ss 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .278
T Hunter dh 4 0 1 1 0 1 0 .296
J Morneau 1b 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 .280
M Cuddyer rf 4 1 1 0 0 1 2 .280
J Kubel lf 3 2 1 1 1 0 0 .262
M Redmond c 3 0 2 2 1 0 0 .295
L Rodriguez 3b 4 1 2 1 0 1 2 .205
N Punto 2b 3 0 1 0 1 0 2 .198

Totals 32 6 9 5 5 5 11

BATTING: 2B - L Rodriguez (4, B Duckworth); T Hunter (39, B Duckworth); M
Redmond (13, N Musser). RBI - L Rodriguez (8), T Hunter (96), J Kubel (52), M
Redmond 2 (38). 2-out RBI - L Rodriguez. Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - M Cuddyer 1, N Punto 2, J Tyner 1. GIDP - J Bartlett. Team LOB - 8.

FIELDING: E - J Bartlett 2 (23, pop up, throw).


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 000 210 010 -- 4
MINNESOTA - 010 140 00x -- 6
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Duckworth (L, 2-4) 4 1/3 8 6 5 2 2 0 3.79
N Musser 1 2/3 1 0 0 1 3 0 4.50
D Riske 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 2.31

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva (W, 11-13) 6 8 3 3 0 4 1 4.34
J Rincon (H, 10) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.69
P Neshek (H, 13) 2/3 2 1 1 0 0 0 2.61
J Nathan (S, 29) 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 2 0 1.70

HBP - J Bartlett (by B Duckworth). Pitches-strikes: B Duckworth 70-44; N
Musser 28-18; D Riske 29-13; C Silva 102-71; J Rincon 17-12; P Neshek 15-12; J
Nathan 16-11. Ground balls-fly balls: B Duckworth 4-7; N Musser 0-2; D Riske
4-2; C Silva 9-4; J Rincon 3-0; P Neshek 0-2; J Nathan 2-0. Batters faced: B
Duckworth 24; N Musser 7; D Riske 7; C Silva 27; J Rincon 4; P Neshek 4; J
Nathan 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Tim Tschida. 1B--Jim Joyce. 2B--Jeff Nelson. 3B--Jim Wolf.

T--2:44. Att--21,738.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
KANSAS CITY 4
MINNESOTA 6 FINAL</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KANSAS CITY (4) AT MINNESOTA (6) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MINNESOTA 2ND: J Morneau flied out to right. M Cuddyer struck out looking.
J Kubel walked. M Redmond reached on infield single to shortstop, J Kubel
to second. L Rodriguez doubled to right, J Kubel scored, M Redmond to third.
N Punto flied out to left. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0, MINNESOTA 1.

KANSAS CITY 4TH: A Gordon grounded out to second. B Butler doubled to deep
right center. S Costa hit a ground rule double to deep center, B Butler
scored. E Brown grounded out to second, S Costa to third. T Pena Jr singled
to center, S Costa scored. J LaRue hit a ground rule double to deep center,
T Pena Jr to third. J Gathright grounded out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 4 Hits,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 2, MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 4TH: J Kubel flied out to right. M Redmond flied out to right.
L Rodriguez singled to right. N Punto singled to left center, L Rodriguez to
third, L Rodriguez scored on throwing error by shortstop T Pena Jr. J Tyner
grounded out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) KANSAS CITY 2, MINNESOTA 2.

KANSAS CITY 5TH: M Grudzielanek struck out swinging. M Sweeney grounded
out to shortstop. A Gordon homered to center. B Butler grounded out to third.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 3, MINNESOTA 2.

MINNESOTA 5TH: J Bartlett hit by pitch. T Hunter doubled to deep right,
J Bartlett scored. J Morneau grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher,
T Hunter out at third. M Cuddyer singled to center, J Morneau to second,
J Morneau to third on error by center fielder J Gathright. J Kubel singled
to center, J Morneau scored, M Cuddyer to third. N Musser relieved B Duckworth.
M Redmond doubled to left, M Cuddyer and J Kubel scored. L Rodriguez struck
out swinging. N Punto walked. J Tyner struck out looking. (4 Runs, 4 Hits,
1 Error) KANSAS CITY 3, MINNESOTA 6.

KANSAS CITY 8TH: P Neshek relieved J Rincon. B Butler doubled to deep right
center. S Costa doubled to deep right center, B Butler scored. E Brown lined
out to first. R Gload hit for T Pena Jr. R Gload flied out to right.
D DeJesus hit for J LaRue. J Nathan relieved P Neshek. D DeJesus grounded out
to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 4, MINNESOTA 6.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KANSAS CITY (4) AT MINNESOTA (6) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kansas City Starting Lineups -- J Gathright CF, M Grudzielanek 2B, M Sweeney DH,
A Gordon 3B, B Butler 1B, S Costa RF, E Brown LF, T Pena Jr SS, J LaRue C,
B Duckworth RHP.

Minnesota Starting Lineups -- J Tyner CF, J Bartlett SS, T Hunter DH, J Morneau 1B,
M Cuddyer RF, J Kubel LF, M Redmond C, L Rodriguez 3B, N Punto 2B, C Silva RHP.

Umpires -- Tim Tschida (HP), Jim Joyce (1B), Jeff Nelson (2B), Jim Wolf (3B).


Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


KANSAS CITY 1ST: J Gathright safe at first on throwing error by shortstop
J Bartlett. M Grudzielanek struck out swinging. M Sweeney singled to center,
J Gathright to second. A Gordon struck out swinging. B Butler grounded into
fielder's choice to shortstop, M Sweeney out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
1 Error) KANSAS CITY 0, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 1ST: J Tyner flied out to left. J Bartlett struck out swinging.
T Hunter grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0,
MINNESOTA 0.

KANSAS CITY 2ND: S Costa flied out to center. E Brown reached on infield
single to shortstop. E Brown caught stealing second, catcher to second.
T Pena Jr reached on infield single to shortstop. J LaRue grounded out to
third. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 2ND: J Morneau flied out to right. M Cuddyer struck out looking.
J Kubel walked. M Redmond reached on infield single to shortstop, J Kubel
to second. L Rodriguez doubled to right, J Kubel scored, M Redmond to third.
N Punto flied out to left. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0, MINNESOTA 1.

KANSAS CITY 3RD: J Gathright lined out to shortstop. M Grudzielanek popped
out to shortstop. M Sweeney grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 0, MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 3RD: J Tyner lined out to pitcher. J Bartlett singled to center.
T Hunter grounded out to shortstop, J Bartlett to second. J Morneau walked.
M Cuddyer lined out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0,
MINNESOTA 1.

KANSAS CITY 4TH: A Gordon grounded out to second. B Butler doubled to deep
right center. S Costa hit a ground rule double to deep center, B Butler
scored. E Brown grounded out to second, S Costa to third. T Pena Jr singled
to center, S Costa scored. J LaRue hit a ground rule double to deep center,
T Pena Jr to third. J Gathright grounded out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 4 Hits,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 2, MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 4TH: J Kubel flied out to right. M Redmond flied out to right.
L Rodriguez singled to right. N Punto singled to left center, L Rodriguez to
third, L Rodriguez scored on throwing error by shortstop T Pena Jr. J Tyner
grounded out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) KANSAS CITY 2, MINNESOTA 2.

KANSAS CITY 5TH: M Grudzielanek struck out swinging. M Sweeney grounded
out to shortstop. A Gordon homered to center. B Butler grounded out to third.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 3, MINNESOTA 2.

MINNESOTA 5TH: J Bartlett hit by pitch. T Hunter doubled to deep right,
J Bartlett scored. J Morneau grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher,
T Hunter out at third. M Cuddyer singled to center, J Morneau to second,
J Morneau to third on error by center fielder J Gathright. J Kubel singled
to center, J Morneau scored, M Cuddyer to third. N Musser relieved B Duckworth.
M Redmond doubled to left, M Cuddyer and J Kubel scored. L Rodriguez struck
out swinging. N Punto walked. J Tyner struck out looking. (4 Runs, 4 Hits,
1 Error) KANSAS CITY 3, MINNESOTA 6.

KANSAS CITY 6TH: S Costa safe at second on error by shortstop J Bartlett.
E Brown lined out to shortstop. T Pena Jr grounded into fielder's choice to
pitcher, S Costa out at third. J LaRue struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
1 Error) KANSAS CITY 3, MINNESOTA 6.

MINNESOTA 6TH: J Bartlett flied out to center. T Hunter struck out
looking. J Morneau popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 3, MINNESOTA 6.

KANSAS CITY 7TH: J Rincon relieved C Silva. J Gathright grounded out to
third. M Grudzielanek grounded out to second. M Sweeney doubled to deep
right. A Gordon grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 3, MINNESOTA 6.

MINNESOTA 7TH: D Riske relieved N Musser. M Cuddyer flied out to center.
J Kubel flied out to left. M Redmond walked. L Rodriguez grounded out to
first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 3, MINNESOTA 6.

KANSAS CITY 8TH: P Neshek relieved J Rincon. B Butler doubled to deep right
center. S Costa doubled to deep right center, B Butler scored. E Brown lined
out to first. R Gload hit for T Pena Jr. R Gload flied out to right.
D DeJesus hit for J LaRue. J Nathan relieved P Neshek. D DeJesus grounded out
to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 4, MINNESOTA 6.

MINNESOTA 8TH: M Grudzielanek at shortstop. E German at second base. J Buck
catching. N Punto grounded out to pitcher. J Tyner walked. J Bartlett
grounded into double play, third to second to first, J Tyner out at second.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 4, MINNESOTA 6.

KANSAS CITY 9TH: J Gathright grounded out to shortstop. M Grudzielanek
struck out looking. M Sweeney struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 4, MINNESOTA 6.</div>

 

Silva bounces back to lift Twins past Royals

<h3>MINNESOTA 6, KANSAS CITY 4</h3>By Anthony Maggio
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - Carlos Silva is nervous about what mighthappen, but he continues to make his case to remain a member ofthe Minnesota Twins.


The soon-to-be free agent righthander battled through sixinnings of eight-hit ball to help the Twins top the Kansas CityRoyals, 6-4, on Saturday.


Silva (11-13) bounced back from a rocky start against Clevelandand has allowed nine earned runs in his last 9 2/3 innings, buthe won for the second time in his last three starts and has a3.15 ERA in his last six outings.


But only time will tell if it is good enough to keep him inMinnesota.


"The last time I pitched, in Cleveland, I got in that mode in mymind during the game - there are a lot of rumors that will beout there," Silva said. "I was looking at the coaches to seewhat's going on. It's hard to be like that. I'm going to bepitching somewhere no matter where, you know? I would like tostay here. This team means a lot to me."


Silva fought through a rough spring training and the Twins tookmuch criticism for leaving him in the rotation with youngsterslike Scott Baker, Matt Garza and Kevin Slowey waiting for anopportunity.


Silva has struggled at times - and did so again Saturday when headmittedly didn't have his best pitches - but consistentlypitched deep into games for Minnesota.


"He's given us an opportunity to win a lot of baseball games,"Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He's an innings-eater andyou have to have those guys on the staff that give you thechance to win and eat up a lot of innings and he's done thosethings for us for the most part. It's not a surprise for us,but a surprise for a lot of people, I think."


Silva got help from battery-mate Mike Redmond, whose two-rundouble highlighted a four-run fifth inning for Minnesota.

Royals starter Brandon Duckworth (2-4), who was activated fromthe 15-day disabled list prior to the game after missing 68games with a left rib cage strain, was given a 3-2 lead by hisoffense heading into the bottom half of the fifth inning. Buthis third start of the season would fall apart from there.

Duckworth, who was moved to the bullpen after two starts tobegin the season before going on the disabled list, hit JasonBartlett to lead off the frame and gave up an RBI double toTorii Hunter down the right-field line.


Hunter was erased on Justin Morneau's fielder's choice, butMichael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel hit back-to-back singles to givethe Twins a 4-3 lead and end Duckworth's day.


"I thought Ducky was fine," Royals manager Buddy Bell said. "Thehit-by-pitch to Bartlett after we got ahead, that opens it upfor Hunter, Morneau and Cuddyer, so I think that was the keyat-bat right there."


Reliever Neal Musser, who was called up for the fifth time thisseason from Class AAA Omaha before the game, came on to faceRedmond. Musser got ahead in the count 1-2, but Redmond rippeda double down the third-base line to bring in a pair of runs andgive the Twins a three-run cushion.


Redmond, who was making his sixth start in seven games sinceMauer was shelved, went 2-for-3 with a walk, improving hisbatting average to .441 with nine RBI in nine games against theRoyals this season. He has two hits in each of his last threestarts overall.


Duckworth allowed six runs - five earned - on eight hits withtwo walks and two strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. He had a 1.59ERA in his other two starts this season.


Billy Butler and Shane Costa added back-to-back doubles for thesecond time in the contest off reliever Pat Neshek in the eighthinning to pull the Royals within 6-4. Joe Nathan then enteredthe game and got the final four outs for his 29th save in 31chances.


The Royals put up a pair of runs on Silva in the fourth onback-to-back one-out doubles from Butler and Costa, along withan RBI single from Tony Pena. Alex Gordon supplied KansasCity's third run with a solo home run with two outs in the fifthinning.


Minnesota scored in the second on Luis Rodriguez's RBI doubleand Rodriguez scored the Twins' second run on a Pena throwingerror following Nick Punto's two-out single in the fourth.

Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored after beingcalled up from Class AAA Rochester before the game. Kubel went1-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI.


Butler, Costa, Pena and Mike Sweeney all had two hits apiece forthe Royals, who have lost three of their last four games.

Silva (11-13) went six innings, allowing three runs on eighthits with no walks and four strikeouts. Those aren't the numbersSilva is looking for as he holds out hope for a spot in thefive-man rotation next season that could include any combinationof Baker, Garza, Slowey, Johan Santana, Boof Bonser, FranciscoLiriano and Boof Bonser.


"I think he wants to pitch here, he loves it here," Gardenhiresaid. "Those are things that we can't control in this room. Ican't control it, I can only have my say in it. As a manager youlike guys who can eat up innings, a good teammate, he roots forthe guys. Every once in awhile he gets a little wacky on us outthere, but all pitchers do. We have a lot of fun with himaround here."


But just because Gardenhire wants him doesn't mean that Silvawill stay. Silva admitted that he was nervous when he sawgeneral manager Terry Ryan come to the clubhouse on Friday - thelast day for waiver-wire trades - and said he has checked thecomputer every morning to see if he's still a member of theTwins.


"This team was the team that gave me the opportunity to be astarter," Silva said. "I'll continue pitching no matter where,but it's tough. It's a bad feeling for me, my family, my wife,we are waiting, we don't know what's going to happen. Just havemy stuff ready. Its very tough to be in that position."

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (4) VS MINNESOTA (6) - FINAL

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Gathright cf 5 0 0 0 0 0 2 .319
M Grudzielanek 2b-ss 5 0 0 0 0 3 1 .305
M Sweeney dh 5 0 2 0 0 1 0 .252
A Gordon 3b 4 1 1 1 0 1 3 .247
B Butler 1b 4 2 2 0 0 0 2 .300
S Costa rf 4 1 2 2 0 0 0 .210
E Brown lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .245
T Pena Jr ss 3 0 2 1 0 0 1 .260
a-R Gload ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .298
E German 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
J LaRue c 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 .140
b-D DeJesus ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .270
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224

Totals 39 4 11 4 0 6 15

a-flied out to right for T Pena Jr in the 8th; b-grounded to second for J
Larue in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - B Butler 2 (19, P Neshek, C Silva); S Costa 2 (4, P Neshek, C
Silva); J LaRue (8, C Silva); M Sweeney (11, J Rincon). HR - A Gordon (12, 5th
inning off C Silva 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - S Costa 2 (10), T Pena Jr (41), A Gordon
(48). 2-out RBI - T Pena Jr, A Gordon. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- D DeJesus 1, J Gathright 2, A Gordon 1, B Butler 1. Team LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: CS - E Brown (2, 2nd base by C Silva/M Redmond).

FIELDING: E - T Pena Jr (21, throw); J Gathright (2, bobble). DP: 1 (A
Gordon-E German-B Butler).


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner cf 4 0 0 0 1 1 3 .298
J Bartlett ss 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .278
T Hunter dh 4 0 1 1 0 1 0 .296
J Morneau 1b 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 .280
M Cuddyer rf 4 1 1 0 0 1 2 .280
J Kubel lf 3 2 1 1 1 0 0 .262
M Redmond c 3 0 2 2 1 0 0 .295
L Rodriguez 3b 4 1 2 1 0 1 2 .205
N Punto 2b 3 0 1 0 1 0 2 .198

Totals 32 6 9 5 5 5 11

BATTING: 2B - L Rodriguez (4, B Duckworth); T Hunter (39, B Duckworth); M
Redmond (13, N Musser). RBI - L Rodriguez (8), T Hunter (96), J Kubel (52), M
Redmond 2 (38). 2-out RBI - L Rodriguez. Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - M Cuddyer 1, N Punto 2, J Tyner 1. GIDP - J Bartlett. Team LOB - 8.

FIELDING: E - J Bartlett 2 (23, pop up, throw).


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 000 210 010 -- 4
MINNESOTA - 010 140 00x -- 6
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Duckworth (L, 2-4) 4 1/3 8 6 5 2 2 0 3.79
N Musser 1 2/3 1 0 0 1 3 0 4.50
D Riske 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 2.31

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva (W, 11-13) 6 8 3 3 0 4 1 4.34
J Rincon (H, 10) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.69
P Neshek (H, 13) 2/3 2 1 1 0 0 0 2.61
J Nathan (S, 29) 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 2 0 1.70

HBP - J Bartlett (by B Duckworth). Pitches-strikes: B Duckworth 70-44; N
Musser 28-18; D Riske 29-13; C Silva 102-71; J Rincon 17-12; P Neshek 15-12; J
Nathan 16-11. Ground balls-fly balls: B Duckworth 4-7; N Musser 0-2; D Riske
4-2; C Silva 9-4; J Rincon 3-0; P Neshek 0-2; J Nathan 2-0. Batters faced: B
Duckworth 24; N Musser 7; D Riske 7; C Silva 27; J Rincon 4; P Neshek 4; J
Nathan 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Tim Tschida. 1B--Jim Joyce. 2B--Jeff Nelson. 3B--Jim Wolf.

T--2:44. Att--21,738.
Weather: INDOORS</div>