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Single by DeJesus in the 10th slows down Twins

Sep 11, 2008 - 9:42 PM By Jon Avise PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Twins got all they could have asked for from starting pitcher Francisco Liriano in the midst of a pennant race on Thursday afternoon.

The lefthander hit his spots, pulled the string again and again on a nasty changeup and at one point retired 17 of 18 Kansas City Royals hitters he faced.

But it wasn't enough.

David DeJesus singled in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning as Kansas City salvaged the final game of a three-game series with a 3-2 victory over Minnesota.

The Royals overcame eight stellar innings from Liriano, who retired 15 straight hitters between the third and eighth innings.

Snapping a three-game losing streak, the Royals also put a temporary hold on the Twins' postseason push, as Minnesota (80-65) entered the day a game behind the Chicago White Sox (81-64) in the American League Central standings.

Kansas City righthander Ramon Martinez (3-2) picked up the win in relief with a scoreless ninth inning and closer Joakim Soria collected his 36th save with a perfect 10th. Collectively, the Royals' bullpen tossed five scoreless innings on the afternoon.

Liriano sailed through much of his eight innings, but three straight singles by the Royals in the 10th, capped by DeJesus' base hit to right field that scored Mark Teahen meant the Twins would waste the lefty's sparkling start.

"I thought he was outstanding, you know, locating the fastball both sides of the plate," Kansas City manager Trey Hillman said of Liriano. "The equalizer today was the changeup - it was (Johan) Santana-like."

Minnesota, which was wrapping up a six-game homestand, jumped out of the gates in the first inning.

Leadoff hitter Denard Span drew a walk off Kansas City starter Brandon Duckworth, stole second and advanced to third on Alexi Casilla's short out in front of the plate. Slugger Justin Morneau then ripped a double down the right field line to drive in his team-leading 120th run and spot Liriano an early 1-0 lead.

The Royals wasted no time in erasing that advantage, as a leadoff double by catcher Miguel Olivo in the second was followed by a one-out, RBI double from Esteban German.

It didn't take long for the Twins to answer, as three singles in the second produced another run. Mark Redmond led off with a base hit, moved to second on Brian Buscher's single and scored when Carlos Gomez looped a hit to right.

However, Liriano again squandered a lead in the following half-inning.

The young lefthander, who is 5-0 since being recalled from Class AAA at the beginning of August, allowed just five hits in his eight innings of work but four went for extra bases. Mike Aviles ripped a triple off the right field baggy with one out in the third and scored when Jose Guillen lashed a double deep to left-center.

Liriano then cruised until he was lifted with the game tied at 2-2 in the eighth. Since his promotion, the lefty has not left a start trailing.

"(Liriano) was very, very good and unfortunately we weren't able to muster any runs to support him," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Minnesota had its chances, though, leaving seven on base and hitting 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position, both uncharacteristic of a team averaging 5.1 runs per game heading into Thursday's contest.

It was a quartet of Kansas City relievers - Ron Mahay, John Bale, Ramirez and Soria - who managed to hold Minnesota's lineup at bay.

"We feel anytime we get into the bullpen we can match up with anybody," said Duckworth, who allowed two runs and seven hits in five innings. "Today shows how well they're throwing."

The Twins bullpen kept the game tied until the 10th, when Matt Guerrier (6-8) gave up a pair of one-out singles to Teahen and Alberto Callaspo. The righthander was lifted for Dennys Reyes, who gave up the decisive hit to DeJesus on his first pitch.

"I know I don't have a very good average against (Reyes) and I wanted to be aggressive with him," DeJesus said of his 10th-inning single. "I just wanted something up."

Over the Twins' last 11 defeats, eight have been dealt to the team's bullpen.

"You know (Liriano) was gonna run out of pitches eventually," Hillman said. "I didn't feel like we had bad at-bats, I just feel like he was better than us and it was kind of trying to wait him out until we could get to the bullpen. But the bullpen is no slouch either."