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DeJesus, Sweeney lead Royals past Twins

Apr 26, 2007 - 5:16 AM MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Twins haven't been the same team at home this season that they were in 2006.

David DeJesus and Mike Sweeney each homered as the Kansas City Royals held off the Twins, 4-3, in the first of a two-game series at the Metrodome.

The Twins dropped to 6-7 at home, where they posted a major-league best 54-27 record last season.

"We didn't play that well at home in the beginning last year and then we had a nice little streak and we started catching up with those numbers," said Minnesota's Torii Hunter said. "It seemed like we played well at home, but early on we struggled really bad. I think that right now, we are just not clicking."

The Twins were 8-5 through 13 home games a year ago.

Kansas City took a 2-0 lead in the first inning against Sidney Ponson (1-3) on Sweeney's second home run of the season.

Hunter cut the lead to one with his fourth round-tripper in the bottom of the second inning, extending the center fielder's hitting streak to 12 games.

The Royals extended their lead to 4-1 in the top of the fifth. After Tony Pena Jr. led off with a single, DeJesus hammered a 3-2 pitch over the right-center field wall. It was the fourth home run of the year for the DeJesus, who has never hit more than nine in a season. He finished with three hits, two RBI and two runs.

Ponson was pinned with the loss, allowing four runs, seven hits and two walks while striking out two in six innings.

"He got himself in some jams, missing, getting behind," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "But, he was also sinking it in there and getting out of some jams. He got some ground balls and did some things right. He competed and he gave us a chance. He was better than his last one, so we will see where we go from here."

Winning pitcher Odalis Perez (2-2) allowed three runs, five hits and two walks while striking out two in six-plus innings.

The Twins were in position to have a big inning in the sixth, but managed just one tally.

Alexi Casilla and Nick Punto each singled to start the inning and Joe Mauer walked to load the bases. However, Michael Cuddyer grounded into a double play, scoring Casilla but quieting a potential rally. Justin Morneau ended the inning with a groundout.

"It is just making pitches," Perez said. "If you can't get Casilla and Punto out, it is tough to face those next three to four guys. But, if you can get them out first, you can find a way to get those three to four guys out."

Mauer, Cuddyer and Morneau, the 3-4-5 hitters for Minnesota, went a combined 0-for-10.

The Twins cut the lead to 4-3 by manufacturing a run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Hunter led off with his 13th double of the season, ending the night for Perez, and advanced to third base on Mike Redmond's groundout against Brandon Duckworth. Jason Kubel's groundout allowed Hunter to cross home plate.

Minnesota squandered another scoring opportunity in the eighth.

David Riske started the inning for the Royals and allowed a single to Casilla, who advanced to second on a sacrifice. Jimmy Gobble replaced Riske and walked Mauer. Gobble gave way to Joakim Soria, who struck out Cuddyer. Moments later, Soria picked Casilla off second base to end the frame.

Soria pitched around a two-out walk in the ninth to close out his third save of the season.

"We have been struggling in our bullpen a little bit, but they did a pretty nice job tonight," Royals manager Buddy Bell said. "We used a few more people than we would have liked to. I thought Odalis got some big outs when we needed it. We had a couple two-run home runs, and that certainly helped."

The Twins were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

"That is baseball," Gardenhire said. "Right now, we are not making them pay when they make a mistake, and when we do hit it hard, it is right at people. That is the way the game goes. It goes in cycles. Right now, it's not a good cycle."