Royals 3 - 1 Twins
Final
  for this game

Royals take opener from Twins in AL Central clash

Jun 9, 2015 - 4:58 AM Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - Kendrys Morales smacked a two-run homer, Jason Vargas fired six shutout innings and the Kansas City Royals defeated the Minnesota Twins 3-1 in the opener of a three-game set.

Vargas (5-2) scattered five hits and didn't walk a batter for the Royals, who have won two straight on the heels of a three-game slide. Eric Hosmer had two hits with an RBI and a run scored.

Greg Holland blanked the Twins in the ninth for his 10th save of the season.

The victory tied Kansas City with the Twins atop the AL Central division.

"We know if we can win a series here it will really get us going," Hosmer said. "We're treating it as if it's a big series."

Eddie Rosario cracked a home run among his two hits and Phil Hughes (4-6) allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk for Minnesota.

"There wasn't a lot of excitement offensively," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "Vargas was solid."

Kansas City plated two in the second for the game's first runs.

Hosmer led off with a single and Morales crushed a 3-1 fastball into the second deck in right for his two-run shot.

Minnesota cut the deficit in half with Rosario's opposite-field blast to left- center in the seventh, but the Royals regained their two-run edge in the eighth.

Three straight two-out singles by Mike Moustakas, Lorenzo Cain and Hosmer made it 3-1.

Game Notes

Kansas City leads the season series 4-3 ... Vargas entered the game 5-4 with a 4.25 ERA in 15 career meetings (14 starts) against Minnesota ... The Royals were 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position, while the Twins finished 1- for-4.






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