Royals 3 - 4 Twins
Final
  for this game

Twins edge Royals

Apr 14, 2014 - 4:13 AM Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - Josmil Pinto hit a two-run home run and the Minnesota Twins scored two runs in the eighth inning to help them sweep the three-game series from the Kansas City Royals with a 4-3 decision on Sunday.

Pinto broke a scoreless tie with a homer off Kansas City starter Jason Vargas in the bottom of the seventh. The Royals then used small ball in the top half of the eighth to grab a 3-2 lead heading to the home half.

Aaron Crow (0-1) walked the first two batters he faced in the eighth and was immediately relieved by Wade Davis. After a Joe Mauer strikeout, Trevor Plouffe walked to load the bases. Chris Herrmann then bounced one back to Davis, who committed a throwing error on the play that enabled Pedro Florimon and Brian Dozier to score.

"I saw the throw. I saw Davis just hanging out a good 10 yards away from the thing, so might as well take a shot," Dozier said of the play.

Casey Fien (1-0) earned the win and Glen Perkins earned his third save of the season after he struck out the first two batters he faced before Mike Moustakas was called out for batter interference to end the game.

Minnesota starter Kevin Correia was charged with three runs over seven innings on six hits with two strikeouts and one walk.

Vargas, meanwhile, allowed two runs over seven innings with four strikeouts and three walks in the setback.

Lorenzo Cain and Alcides Escobar each had two hits for the Royals, who have lost four of their last five.

"I think everybody's trying to do too much right now," Royals manager Ned Yost said.

Both starting pitchers were cruising through six innings, with each working out of jams to maintain the scoreless tie.

Mauer collected two hits in the win and also stole his first base of the season after a one-out single in the sixth. He was doubled off second after Plouffe ripped a line drive to Infante to end the inning.

Kansas City got on the board in the eighth, as Correia walked Moustakas to lead off the inning, then allowed a single to right off the bat of Cain.

Escobar laid a bunt down and was awarded a single on the play. Plouffe, however, tossed the ball into right field and Moustakas scored to cut the deficit in half, 2-1. Nori Aoki followed with a safety squeeze that scored Cain to tie the game and Eric Hosmer gave the Royals a lead two batters later with a double to center that plated Escobar.

Game Notes

Minnesota committed two errors, while Kansas City committed one ... Aaron Hicks and Florimon each added stolen bases for the Twins ... The Royals were 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position ... Minnesota was 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.






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