Kansas City Royals Get First Walkoff Win of the Year

Before tonight, the Kansas City Royals had not had a walkoff victory this season. Tonight, they managed to break that streak on their second attempt, downing the Minnesota Twins 3-2 in extra innings.

The Twins got on the board first. Eddie Rosario led off the inning with a double to center, and came around to score on a base hit to right by Miguel Sano, his first career run batted in. Kansas City tied the game in the bottom of the third, as Lorenzo Cain‘s two out base hit plated Alex Rios, knotting the game at 1-1.

For a time, it seemed as though that may be the end of the scoring, at least while both starters were in the game. Jeremy Guthrie and Tommy Milone were locked in what was an unlikely pitcher’s duel, and whichever pitcher blinked first may have found themselves on the short end of the outcome.

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Unfortunately for the Kansas City Royals, it appeared as though that fate would befall Guthrie. Sano doubled to lead off the fifth, and after an infield hit put runners at the corners, Aaron Hicks hit a sacrifice fly to give the Twins a 2-1 lead. That was about all the offense that Minnesota would muster against Guthrie, who pitched 7.1 excellent innings, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk, striking out four.

Kansas City would not allow that start to be in vain. Cain singled with one out, stole second and moved to third on a ground out. Kendrys Morales then blooped  base hit to left, plating Cain to tie the game at 2-2.

The Royals had a prime opportunity to win in the bottom of the ninth. Salvador Perez and Alex Rios singled to lead off the inning, bringing Dusty Coleman in to pinch run for Perez. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners up, Alcides Escobar was intentionally walked to load the bases, bringing up Mike Moustakas.

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With the Twins playing a five infielder and two outfielder defense, Moustakas lifted a fly ball to medium right. Coleman tagged, but hesitated on the throw home. With the throw ending up towards the first base side of the plate, it seemed as though he would have scored the game winning run had he continued running home. Instead, Coleman ended up in a rundown, and was eventually tagged out at home to end the inning. Quite the inauspicious debut for Coleman.

However, the Royals were able to keep Coleman from being the goat. Cain continued to be everywhere on offense, doubling to left to put the leadoff man on once again. After a strikeout, a wild pitch moved Cain up to third. Jarrod Dyson, who had pinch run for Morales, hit a little ground ball up the first base line. Joe Mauer threw home, but the tag was just late as Cain slid in with the winning run in the Royals 3-2 victory.

Wade Davis picked up the win, pitching a perfect tenth to lower his ERA to 0.26 on the season. Cain was easily the offensive star, going 3-4 with a double, two runs scored, a walk and an RBI.

Next: Royals Look for Infield Offense, Call up Dusty Coleman