Game 79: Twins edge Royals 2-1
Minnesota @ Kansas City (Game 2 of 3)
Scott Baker picked up his sixth win of the season in a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night. Baker gave up a single run in the first inning and pitched his way out of a bases loaded jam in the fourth to keep the Twins in the game. Baker completed five full innings and gave up five hits while striking out one and walking two.
Baker got some run support in the fourth on a solo home run from Justin Morneau that landed in the fountains in right field. It was Morneau’s 19th home run of the season and the third consecutive game that he has homered in.
Morneau also played into the second run for the Twins when he hit a ground ball to first baseman Billy Butler who tried to turn a routine double play but threw the ball into left field. Joe Mauer would advance to third on the error and score the winning run off a sacrifice fly from Michael Cuddyer.
Newcomer Bobby Keppel relieved Baker in the sixth and pitched another solid outing by giving up only one hit and a walk with three strike outs in 2 1/3 inning of work. Keppel has now pitched 6 1/3 innings with the club and has an ERA of 0.00. Jose Mijares and Matt Guerrier each pitched 1/3 inning of relief with Mijares giving up two hits and Guerrier retiring the only batter he faced.
Joe Nathan closed out the game for the Twins and retired all three batters he faced, two of them with strike outs. The win gave Nathan his 20th save of the season and dropped his already low ERA down to 1.45.
Attendance: 19,310 (Kauffman Stadium)
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