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	<channel>		<title>RUWT? News</title>
		<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com</link>
		<description>RUWT? News for Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City Royals 6/30/2009</description>
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		<lastBuildDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:57:15 GMT</lastBuildDate>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:57:15 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Morneau's homer helps Twins beat Royals 2-1]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By JOHN MARSHALL
AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo.(AP) -- One pitch after another, the Royals fouled
back seemingly everything Scott Baker threw. Good pitches, bad
pitches, pitches he was trying to let them hit: Foul!

When it mattered most, Baker got the outs and the win.

Justin Morneau homered for the third straight game and Baker
labored through five tough innings, lifting the Minnesota Twins
to a 2-1 victory over hapless Kansas City on Tuesday night.

Not quite shaky, not quite great, Baker (6-6) needed 111 pitches
to get through his five innings, coming up with the right one
each time to get the Royals out after all those foul balls.

"Sometimes, you're wanting them to put it play, you're just
throwing it over the plate," Baker said. "I was wanting them to
put it in play and they weren't doing it, so you keep throwing
it until they do. Fortunately, it worked out."

Baker's laborious win wouldn't have been possible without
Morneau and another defensive miscue by the Royals.

Morneau provided what little offense the Twins could muster
against Brian Bannister (5-6), splashing a solo homer into the
fountains in right-center in the fourth inning to tie the game
at 1-all. The 2006 AL MVP hit a three-run homer against St.
Louis on Sunday and had a two-run shot to open the Kansas City
series.

The Twins scored the go-ahead run in the sixth, when the Royals
turned what should have been a double play into an unearned run
and another disheartening loss for Bannister.

"It was a little bit of an insult to it (Bannister's effort),"
Royals manager Trey Hillman said.

Baker fought through a 28-pitch first inning, giving up a run on
Mike Jacobs' run-scoring flare single to center. The
right-hander worked out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the
fourth inning, getting Mitch Maier on a weak pop up and striking
out Tony Pena Jr.

The inning took its toll, though.

Baker was hit on the backside by Miguel Olivo's infield single
to load the bases and needed 11 pitches - after starting 0-2 -
to strike out Pena, a .103 hitter. He made it through the fifth
inning despite a 15-pitch at-bat by Willie Bloomquist, but
didn't come out for the sixth, worn out after all those foul
balls. Baker gave up a run and five hits.

"He said in the dugout: 'I was making just a bad enough pitch
for them to foul it off or just a good enough pitch not to make
them out.' Figure that one out," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire
said. "He got through them and got a win."

Minnesota's bullpen took it from there.

Bobby Keppel pitched 2 1-3 scoreless innings, getting help from
shortstop Brendan Harris, who saved a run in the sixth with a
diving stop up the middle with two on. Jose Mijares and Matt
Guerrier bridged the gap and Joe Nathan worked a perfect ninth
for his 15th straight save and 20th in 22 chances.

"The bullpen was great," Baker said. "They deserve the win just
as much as I do."

So did Bannister.

The right-hander was sharp after a shaky outing against Houston
last week, allowing Morneau's 19th homer in the fourth and not
much else.

As usual, his teammates let him down. Normally, it's the
offense. This time, the defense let him down, too.

After giving up Joe Mauer's squib single just inside third base
in the sixth inning, Bannister induced Morneau into what should
have been a double play ball. Instead, Jacobs' throw from first
sailed into left for Kansas City's 57th error of the season.
Michael Cuddyer followed with a one-out sacrifice fly that put
the Twins up 2-1.

Bannister gave up six hits, two runs - one earned - with six
strikeouts in seven innings.

Normally, that's good enough to win anywhere. Just not in Kansas
City. The Royals are among the AL's worst in hitting, runs,
slugging percentage and on-base percentage. They've been
particularly inept with Bannister on the mound, scoring 10 runs
in his six losses.

"Bannister was great. He missed location on the home run, but
overall he was outstanding," Hillman said. "Very efficient, for
the most part, especially going through the meat of the lineup."

NOTES: Royals RF Jose Guillen didn't start for the second
straight game because of a stiff left side. He pinch-hit in the
sixth and stayed in the game. He was 0 for 2. ... Mauer was 1
for 4 and is 10 for 45 the past 12 games with his average
dropping from .429 to .383.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[mlb]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/mlb/news/104897-Morneaus-homer-helps-Twins-beat-Royals-2-1</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/mlb/news/104897-Morneaus-homer-helps-Twins-beat-Royals-2-1</guid>
				<pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:35:00 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Twins-Royals Preview]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN
STATS Senior Writer

Minnesota (39-38) at Kansas City (32-42), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Minnesota Twins starter Scott Baker has mostly positive memories
of facing the Kansas City Royals. His last start isn't one of
them.

Baker looks to win his fourth straight decision Tuesday night
and exact some revenge on the Royals when the Twins continue
their three-game set at Kauffman Stadium.

The right-hander had been 5-0 with a 1.87 ERA in his previous
six starts versus the Royals (33-42) heading into his outing May
3. Baker (5-6, 5.17 ERA) took a no-hitter into the seventh
inning before Kansas City chased him with five straight hits,
and all of them scored as he was eventually charged with a 7-5
loss.

"A little frustrating, obviously," said Baker after the defeat
dropped him to 0-4 for the year. "Just try to take what you can
take positively from the outing and just kind of go from there."

It was the second time Baker had a brush with history against
Kansas City. He took a perfect game into the ninth inning on
Aug. 31, 2007, at the Metrodome before issuing a leadoff walk to
John Buck and allowing a one-out single by pinch-hitter Mike
Sweeney.

Baker has pitched well over his last five outings, going 3-0
with a 3.41 ERA. He allowed three runs over six innings last
Thursday to earn a 6-4 victory at Milwaukee.

Minnesota (39-39) has lost three straight against Kansas City
after falling 4-2 on Monday. Luke Hochevar pitched seven
scoreless innings for the Royals while Alberto Callaspo and
Miguel Olivo hit back-to-back homers in the sixth inning.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was ejected in the sixth for
arguing whether a ball hit Jason Kubel's foot. His club
committed two errors, lost for only the fifth time in 13 road
games and fell to 4-3 on a seven-game trip.

"We've been playing pretty good, but we just had a clunker here
tonight," Gardenhire said. "We just didn't make enough plays out
there."

Minnesota All-Star catcher Joe Mauer went 0 for 4, and is in a
bit of a slump. He's 9 for 41 (.220) with one homer and two RBIs
in his last 11 games to see his average fall from .429 to a
season-low .386.

Twins third baseman Joe Crede, a Missouri native, was scratched
from the lineup Monday as a precaution due to back stiffness.
Crede is a career. 321 hitter at Kauffman Stadium for his
highest average in any AL park.

Kansas City right fielder Jose Guillen, meanwhile, did not play
Monday due to stiffness in his left side. Guillen is 5 for 26
(.192) in his last six games.

Brian Bannister (5-5, 4.17) has pitched very well in three
career starts versus the Twins at Kauffman Stadium, going 2-0
with a 1.71 ERA. He is 3-1 with a 3.60 ERA in seven career
starts against them, yielding six runs over 5 1-3 innings in a
10-7, 11-inning victory at the Metrodome on May 2.

The right-hander is trying to avoid dropping a third straight
start. He surrendered five runs over six innings Thursday in a
5-4 loss at Houston.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[mlb]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/mlb/news/104732-Twins-Royals-Preview</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/mlb/news/104732-Twins-Royals-Preview</guid>
				<pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:31:12 GMT</pubDate>
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