Royals Rally Late, Down Twins 4-3

Royals improve to 4-1 on the season behind Terrance Gore‘s legs.

Terrance Gore single-handedly delivered the Royals a win Sunday afternoon, after taking two-bases on an errant pick-off throw by Trevor May and scoring the game-winning run on a wild pitch.

The win gave the Royals their first series sweep of the season, as well as dropping the Twins to 0-6 on the season.

The Royals offense was mostly silent through seven innings, with 33-year old right hander Ricky Nolasco stifling the Royals for seven innings, giving up just one run on 3 hits, while striking out five in the process.

The Royals lone run against Nolasco came in the 7th, off the bat of Mike Moustakas, who hit a 415-foot home run into the fountains in right-center field.

The Royals inability to score runs overshadowed Edinson Volquez‘s performance, who started opposite of Nolasco.

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Volquez struck out 10 Twins over his 5 2/3 innings of work, while walking zero. He did give up two runs on eight hits, and was given the loss.

Edinson held the Twins scoreless through five, before Eddie Rosario, Joe Mauer, and Miguel Sano hit three consecutive singles, with Sano’s driving in Rosario to put the Twins up 1-0.

After Volquez struck out Byung Ho Park for the third time, Eduardo Nunez fisted a single into center field, which was mishandled by Lorenzo Cain, allowing Mauer to score and putting the Twins up 2-0.

That ended Volquez night, being relieved by Luke Hochevar, who needed only one pitch to get John Ryan Murphy to line out to right field and end the inning.

However, after Moustakas would homer to make it a 2-1 game, Brian Dozier took Hochevar deep with a blast into the Sonic seats, putting the Twins back up by two runs, 3-1.

The Royals brought the tying run to the plate in the 8th, with Christian Colon‘s one out single, before Paulo Orlando and Alcides Escobar both grounded out to short.

Out trots Glen Perkins, who started a bit of a scuffle last night by throwing behind Paulo Orlando in a 7-0 game, something the Royals took exception to.

They responded with a Cain single, Eric Hosmer RBI triple, and a Kendrys Morales sac fly to tie the game at 3-3.

After a 1-2-3 inning from Wade Davis in the 10th, Colon lead off the bottom half of the inning with a walk, before being pinch ran for by Terrance Gore.

Gore advanced to third on a throwing error by Trevor May, attempting a pickoff throw.

However, Orlando flew out to shallow centerfield, not allowing Gore to tag up, before Escobar struck out on a spiked curveball.

After Moustakas walked, May got Cain down to two-strikes before spiking a curveball that got away from Murphy, allowing Gore to score the game-winning run.

Gore’s presence in the game single-handedly led to the win. With Dyson returning soon, we’ll see how long he remains in Kansas City.

Next: Royals Beat Twins 7-0

Game Notes:

• Edinson Volquez’s changeup was absolutely filthy, with six of his 10 strikeouts being a result of pitches like this: