Kansas City Royals Rally For 6-5 Victory over Twins

Last season, it seemed as though there was some sort of magic around the eighth inning for the Kansas City Royals. For some reason, as soon as that inning rolled around, the offense came to life and did just enough to pull out a victory. Tonight, the Minnesota Twins got to see a revival of that magical touch, as the Royals came back with another eighth inning rally to take a 6-5 victory.

The Royals drew first blood in the bottom of the second. With one out, Alex Gordon continued to climb out of his early season slump, launching a home run to right to give the Royals the first run of the game. Minnesota tied the score in the top of the fourth, using the Royals approach from last season of stringing three singles together to knot the contest at one apiece.

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The difference between last season and this year, power, once again appeared in the bottom of the fifth. Christian Colon singled to lead off the inning, and with one out, Mike Moustakas continued his excellent start to the season, hitting a two run home run to give the Royals the lead once more.

Unfortunately, Royals starter Jason Vargas ran out of gas in the top of the sixth. With one out, Joe Mauer and Brian Dozier hit consecutive doubles, but left the Twins with runners on second and third. Mauer continued his adventures on the basepaths, as he was thrown out at home trying to score on a grounder to third.

That would be the final out that Vargas would record. Vargas allowed consecutive singles to tie the game, bringing in Jason Frasor. Frasor, who the last time he relieved Vargas, got the Royals out of a bases loaded jam with no outs unscathed, was not so fortunate this time out. Two more singles gave the Twins a 5-3 lead before the final out of the sixth was recorded.

However, the Kansas City Royals would not be stopped. They worked a little two out magic of their own in the sixth, as Paulo Orlando worked a four pitch walk. Christian Colon followed with a double to right center to cut the lead to 5-4, and promptly stole third. Even though he was stranded there, one had the sense that the Royals were not done.

The comeback was finalized in the eighth. Salvador Perez led off the inning with a single, and was lifted for Jarrod Dyson. Orlando hit a rare single, giving the Royals runners on the corners. Orlando stole second, and the Royals tied the game on a groundout. After a pop foul for the second out, Moustakas continued to prove that he is a truly different hitter thus far, poking an opposite field single to give the Royals a 6-5 lead. Wade Davis came on and slammed the door in the top of the ninth, as the Kansas City Royals pulled even with the Tigers for the American League Central.

Chris Young picked up his first win in a Royals uniform, pitching two perfect innings with one strikeout. Moustakas was 3-5 with a home run and three RBIs.

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