Twins 2 - 1 Royals
Final
  for this game

Gibson pitches Twins past Royals

Jul 30, 2014 - 5:36 AM Kansas City, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Kyle Gibson tossed seven scoreless innings to lead the Minnesota Twins past the Kansas City Royals, 2-1, in the opener of a three-game set.

Gibson (9-8) surrendered just two hits and two walks, while fanning seven batters to earn the win. Gibson is now 3-0 in three career starts against the Royals.

Brian Dozier and Josh Willingham each drove in a run for the Twins, who have won two straight games.

"The first game on the road to try to win the series is always the most important," Dozier said.

Eric Hosmer drove in the Royals' lone run with an RBI single in the ninth inning as the team dropped their second consecutive game after winning five in a row.

Starter James Shields (9-6) was tagged with the loss after giving up two runs -- one earned -- on six hits and four walks in six innings.

"He was a bit erratic and got his pitch count up early," said Royals manager Ned Yost on Shields.

Trevor Plouffe walked to open the second, stole second and advanced to third after catcher Salvador Perez's throw sailed into center field, but was left stranded after Shields got three straight outs to end the frame.

The Twins avoided making the same mistake in the third. Danny Santana got aboard with a leadoff bunt and advanced to second on Shields' botched pickoff attempt. Santana moved to third on Sam Fuld's groundout and came home two batters later on Willingham's sacrifice fly to center.

Minnesota added to its lead in the fifth. Santana doubled to right and Fuld singled to place runners on the corners. Dozier's base hit to left scored Santana, Fuld moved to third on the play and Dozier took second after interference by second baseman Omar Infante.

Shields hit Willingham with a pitch to load the bases, but limited the damage after getting Chris Parmelee to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Lorenzo Cain provided Kansas City's first extra-base hit of the night, a one- out double off Casey Fien in the eighth. Fien left him stranded after striking out Alcides Escobar and inducing an inning-ending fly out from Nori Aoki.

Glen Perkins came on to pitch the ninth and was greeted with a leadoff double from Infante. Hosmer scored Infante with a base hit to left, cutting the deficit in half, but Perkins recovered to retire the next three batters and earn his 26th save of the season.

Game Notes

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was ejected by home plate umpire Ted Barrett in the third inning after his challenge of Royals left fielder Alex Gordon's inning-ending catch was confirmed ... Shields hasn't won since 7/7 against Tampa Bay ... Cain extended his hitting streak to six games ... The Twins lead the season series, 6-4.






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