Royals Open Homestand With 5-0 Victory Over Twins
By Ethan Evans
Apr 17, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas (8) drives in a run with a single during the second inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Jason Vargas is making it difficult not to believe in him.
The Royals picked up their 4th win in a row Friday night as they beat the Twins 5-0 at home. Jason scattered six hits and a walk over seven strong innings and the Royals provided some offense as Vargas grabbed a win and the Royals climbed over the .500 mark.
The Royals scored two runs in the 3rd inning when Alcides Escobar hit a double which was followed by a hard hit grounder on which the Twins’ third-baseman couldn’t make a play. Omar Infante kept the inning going with a little dribbler to pitcher Ricky Nolasco who tried to throw Escobar out at the plate but Esky was able to get under the tag. Hosmer followed up with a single which scored Aoki but he overran 1st base and was was tagged out on the basepaths.
Vargas also had some defensive help on the night. Alex Gordon threw Josmil Pinto out at second when Pinto tried to stretch a single into a double.
The Royals scored another run in the 5th after being sparked once again by Alcides Escobar. This time he hit a sing and was moved to second on an Aoki ground out. Infante drove Escobar in with a single and made it to third on another Hosmer single before Salvador Perez ended the inning by flying out to left.
Gordo had another defensive highlight on a sharply hit foul ball down the left field line by Joe Mauer. Alex was running hard to his left leaped to make the catch before hitting the wall pretty hard. He was uninjured however and held on for the out.
The best part of the night came in the bottom of the sixth as Billy Butler hit a ground ball single past second base before the oft-maligned Mike Moustakas hit a two-run shot to right field to give the Royals a 5-0 lead.
Aaron Crow came in to pitch a scoreless 8th and Louis Coleman worked around a two-out single in the 9th to help the Royals add one to the win column.
The Royals had 11 hits with Hosmer and Infante both going 2 for 4 and Alcides Escobar going 3 for 3. The Twins had 8 hits with Josmil Pinto going 2 for 3 on the night.
Jason Vargas picked up his second win of the season (2-0) and Ricky Nolasco took the loss (1-2).
Here’s hoping the Royals can keep it up as the weekend progresses.