• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Royals double up Twins

Apr 13, 2011 - 10:21 PM Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Mike Aviles went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in and a run scored, as the Kansas City Royals used a six-run fourth to beat the Minnesota Twins, 10-5, in the finale of a two-game series at Target Field.

Alex Gordon and Jeff Francoeur each had two hits and two RBI for the Royals, who bounced back from a 10-inning, 4-3 defeat in Tuesday's series opener.

Kansas City starter Kyle Davies (1-1) got the win despite giving up five runs on 10 hits over five innings.

Delmon Young went 2-for-4 with two RBI for the Twins, who have lost three of four. Denard Span went 4-for-5 with two runs scored.

Francisco Liriano (0-3) had a tough time on the mound for Minnesota, allowing seven runs on eight hits over five-plus frames.

The Twins started the home first with three straight hits. Span led off with a single and scored when Kansas City second baseman Chris Getz was unable to handle a throw from Melky Cabrera on a hit to left-center by Matt Tolbert that was ruled a double. Jason Kubel then dropped a single into right field to put runners on the corners, but Davies limited the damage from there.

Kansas City didn't get a hit through the first three innings, but the first six batters of the fourth picked up hits and the Royals sent 10 batters to plate while scoring six times.

Cabrera led off with a single, raced to third on a base hit by Gordon and scored on a single to center by Billy Butler. Francouer then singled home Gordon with the second run and Wilson Betemit laced another base hit to load the bases before Aviles doubled inside the bag at third to plate two. After a groundout by Matt Treanor briefly ended the hit parade, Alcides Escobar knocked in another with a soft single to center for a 5-1 lead. Getz was credited with a two-out infield single to chase home Aviles with the final run of the inning.

"We have great character on this team," Butler said. "We're playing hard and not giving up."

Minnesota used a four-run fifth to cut the gap to 6-5. Span and Tolbert hit consecutive one-out singles to get things going. Kubel followed with an RBI single. Justin Morneau hit an RBI double to right and Young laced a two-run single to right to cap the scoring in the inning.

The Royals got a run back in the sixth. Betemit led off with a walk, which led to Glen Perkins taking over on the mound for Liriano. Aviles then doubled to the gap in right-center field to score Betemit for a 7-5 margin.

Kansas City added three insurance runs in the ninth. With the bases loaded and one out, Gordon broke his bat on a double to right. Two runners scored on the play for a 9-5 margin. Francoeur added a sac fly two batters later to account for the final margin.

"We just haven't been able to play a complete game from start to finish," Span said.

Game Notes

The Twins scored in the first inning for the first time this season...Since the start of 2008, the Twins have a record of 38-18 against the Royals...Minnesota left eight men on base...Jeremy Jeffress picked up his first-career save with two scoreless innings.