Royals 2 - 0 Twins
Final
  for this game

Royals, Twins continue big AL Central series

Jun 9, 2015 - 2:07 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - An American League Central battle between the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins resumes Tuesday at Target Field.

The Royals moved percentage points ahead of the Twins for the division lead with Monday's 3-1 win in the opener of a three-game series.

Kendrys Morales hit a two-run homer in the second inning and Eric Hosmer added an RBI single in the eighth for the Royals, who won for just the fourth time in the last 13 games and kicked off an eight-game road trip.

"We know if we can win a series here it will really get us going," Hosmer said. "We're treating it as if it's a big series."

Hosmer is one of seven Royals now leading the way at their respective positions for the All-Star Game on July 14.

"It's pretty cool," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Our fans have stepped up in a big way for our players. They've really supported them, not only in the stands, but in the balloting, too."

Jason Vargas pitched six shutout innings for the win last night, scattering five hits with two strikeouts and no walks. The bullpen allowed a home run and Greg Holland picked up his 10th save in the ninth.

Kansas City will also visit St. Louis and Milwaukee on this trek.

Chris Young has lost his last two starts and will try to avoid another defeat when he takes the mound Tuesday for the Royals. Young started the season 4-0 with a 0.78 earned run average in his first eight appearances and the streak ended in a 4-2 loss at Yankee Stadium on May 27.

He allowed four runs in six innings against the Bronx Bombers, then gave up a season-high six runs in five innings of Thursday's 6-2 defeat to Cleveland. Young dropped to 4-2 with a 2.56 ERA in 12 games (6 starts) and will face the Twins for a third time this season.

Young has a 1-2 record and a 3.35 ERA in eight career games (6 starts) against Minnesota.

The once-hot Twins have now lost five of their last eight games and Eddie Rosario highlighted the offense with a solo homer off of Ryan Madson in the bottom of the seventh inning.

"There wasn't a lot of excitement offensively," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "Vargas was solid."

Rosario, Eduardo Escobar and Aaron Hicks all had two hits in defeat, while Phil Hughes was reached for all three runs and seven hits in 7 2/3 innings to take the loss. He fell to 4-6 this season and gave up the big homer.

"I made too good of a pitch for him over the middle of the plate and he didn't miss it," Hughes said. "It was unfortunate because I felt like I was really able to execute some pitches tonight."

Trevor May will toe the rubber for the Twins Tuesday and is 4-3 with a 4.45 earned run average in 10 starts. He is 2-0 in his last four starts and threw seven shutout innings in Wednesday's 2-0 win at Boston. He struck out nine and did not walk a batter for the third time in his last four appearances.

May, a right-hander, lost to Kansas City on April 13, when he allowed five runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 12-3 setback. May has lost both of his starts against the Royals, allowing eight runs and 15 hits in 10 innings.

Kansas City is 4-3 against Minnesota this season.






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