Royals Report: KC Notches Eighth Straight Win

The Royals won their eighth straight game by defeating the Twins 2-1 at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday afternoon. KC ace Danny Duffy out-dueled Twins ace Ervin Santana for the win, which allowed Kansas City to notch their second series sweep in a row.

The Kansas City Royals improved to 64-60 with their 2-1 win on Sunday. Kansas City remained 8.0 games behind AL Central leader Cleveland. Baltimore and Houston were rain delayed as this post was published, so the Royals pulled within 4.0 games of the second wild card pending the results of that game. Minnesota fell to 49-75. The Twins remain in last place in the AL Central.

Duffy And Santana Had Their Best Stuff

Since starters Danny Duffy and Ervin Santana had their “A” stuff on Sunday, the game came down to pitching and defense

Duffy went 6.2 innings, allowing 8 hits, 2 walks, and 1 earned run with 4 strikeouts to earn the win. Meanwhile, Ervin Santana went 7.0 innings, holding KC to 5 hits, 1 walk, and 2 earned runs with 10 strikeouts.

The key inning came in second. In the top of the frame, the Twins loaded the bases with no outs against Danny Duffy, but failed to score a run. First, Duffy struck out Eddie Rosario. He then got a sliding catch in shallow right field by Alex Gordon and a diving play at third base from Cheslor Cuthbert to save an extra base hit up the line.

In the bottom of the second, the Kansas City Royals took a 1-0 lead on Alcides Escobar‘s RBI ground out. Escobar’s chopper followed a single from Eric Hosmer and double by Kendrys Morales.

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Minnesota knotted the score a 1-1 in the third on doubles by Robbie Grossman and Trevor Plouffe. But, KC recaptured the lead for good on Eric Hosmer’s RBI double with two outs in the sixth to score Lorenzo Cain from first. Cain reached because Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco booted a hard grounder that was ruled a hit.

Though Kansas City pitcher Danny Duffy was charged with the game’s only error, the difference in the game was the Royals defense.

A Perfect Finish From The Pen

That second run was all the offense the Kansas City pitching staff needed as Peter Moylan, Joakim Soria, and Kelvin Herrera combined for 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. Moylan notched the final out of the seventh inning, with Soria and Herrera pitching the eighth and ninth. Herrera earned his seventh save of the season.

The bullpen extended their current scoreless streak to 28.0 innings on Sunday. The surge has allowed Kansas City’s bullpen to reclaim the ERA lead in MLB.

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After completing the four game sweep against Minnesota, the Kansas City Royals get an off day on Monday before hitting the road to begin a six game trip that includes three-game series in Miami and Boston.

Let’s hope Rally Mantis II can keep the Boys in Blue on track.