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Royals rally past Twins

Aug 1, 2014 - 5:41 AM Kansas City, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Alcides Escobar's two-run triple broke a tie game in the seventh inning, and the Kansas City Royals upended the Minnesota Twins, 6-3, in the rubber match of a three-game series.

Mike Moustakas drove in a run and scored twice for the Royals, who scored four times in the seventh and moved within four games of first-place Detroit in the AL Central.

Yordano Ventura (8-8) had seven strikeouts over a seven-inning performance in which he allowed five hits and a pair of runs -- one earned -- in Kansas City's seventh victory in nine contests.

Kansas City was hit by bad news after the game when manager Ned Yost revealed first baseman Eric Hosmer has a stress fracture in his right hand. Hosmer will be placed on the disabled list, and will be sidelined 3-6 weeks.

"Anytime you lose a player of his caliber, it hurts," Yost said. "I like our team, I think we'll be able to overcome it."

Twins starter Kevin Correia had a similar line over six frames, but had three less strikeouts and walked none compared to three for Ventura.

Danny Santana led off the game with his fourth homer of the year, but the Twins lost for the fifth time in seven games.

The Royals weren't active at the non-waiver trade deadline Thursday, but the Twins made a move by sending outfielder Sam Fuld to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for left-handed pitcher Tommy Milone.

Minnesota wasted a chance with two men on in the sixth and the Royals went ahead an inning later. Caleb Thielbar (2-1) gave up a single to Lorenzo Cain and a walk to Moustakas. Ryan Pressly entered from the bullpen, but Escobar tripled down the left-field line.

Jarrod Dyson then singled to center to plat Escobar. He stole second and then swiped third when Omar Infante struck out. The throw to third hit off the leg of Dyson and the ball bounced away, giving him ample time to come home.

Pinch-hitter Kurt Suzuki doubled in Oswaldo Arcia in the top of the eighth, but Wade Davis struck out Eduardo Nunez to leave the bases full.

Greg Holland retired the side in order in the ninth for his 29th save.

Santana homered barely over the wall in right field over a leaping Cain.

It became 2-0 in the third thanks to a pair of errors on Moustakas. Eduardo Escobar, who singled and later advanced to third, on a fielder's choice by Trevor Plouffe raced home when Moustakas' throw to the plate went over the head of Salvador Perez.

Ventura escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the fourth, and the Royals tied it in the fifth. Raul Ibanez and Moustakas had back-to-back doubles, and with two outs, Dyson hit a low liner that bounced under the glove of second baseman Escobar and into right field. The error scored Moustakas.

"We're just missing way too many chances early in the ball game. With less than two outs, we just didn't get the big hit," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Game Notes

The Twins and All-Star catcher Kurt Suzuki have reached an agreement on a two- year contract extension. Suzuki, who had been slated to become a free agent at the conclusion of this season, will earn $6 million in both 2015 and 2016. The deal also contains a vesting option for 2017 ... Minnesota also recalled first baseman Kennys Vargas from Double-A New Britain to take the spot of Fuld on the 25-man roster ... Minnesota went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base.