The Minnesota Twins lost the rubber match in the series against the Kansas City Royals 7-5 on May 3rd in front of 31,845 fans at the Metrodome.
Denard Span scored off of a Justin Morneau single in the bottom of the first, and in the fourth Michael Cuddyer doubles on a grounder to score Jason Kubel.
In the sixth, Morneau scores on a single by Cuddyer before Cuddyer stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error by Royals catcher John Buck, then crossed the plate on a Delmon Young single to cushion the lead 5-0.
After six innings of no-hit pitching by Scott Baker, the twins were unable to hold the lead.
“Obviously, we were riding on cruise control for the first six innings with no-hit baseball and then, bam, it changes on you,” said Michael Cuddyer. “As a young team, you have to realize that you have to always continue to put the throttle down. Today we kind of let up a little bit.”
Baker gave up five runs on five hits in the seventh inning, allowing Kansas city to take the lead, and Minnesota never recovered.
“It just looked like he couldn’t make a pitch after he gave up the one hit,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “A tough day. Baker threw the heck out of the ball. He was going as good as you can throw it and all of a sudden, boom, there it is. That’s how the game comes up and bites you.”
The top of the seventh opens on a Willie Bloomquist single. Mark Teahan singles on the next at bat before Jose Guillen smacks a two RBI homer. Mike Jacobs and David Dejesus both single to prompt a pitching change.
Luis Ayala relieves Baker and his first pitch resulted in an Alberto Callaspo double that scored Jacobs and Dejesus for the 5-4 lead. Callaspo is put out at third.
Willie Bloomquist blasts a triple off of R.A. Dickey in the eighth followed by a Teahan walk and an RBI double by Guillen.
“[Baker] had real good stuff, sharp stuff, early on especially,” Bloomquist said. “It kind of flattened out a little bit there in the seventh inning and we were able to get a better look at it. He was tough for six full innings, that’s for sure.”
Kansas city added one in the ninth as Callpso scored on a sacrifice fly by Coco Crisp.
Denard span contributed a run in the bottom of the ninth, but Minnesota was unable to rally for the win.
R.A. Dickey pitched the last two innings for Minnesota allowing two runs on four hits, walking two and striking out one.
Gil Meche pitched six innings, allowing four hits on four runs, striking out three and walking two to pick up the win. Joakim Soria recorded the save pitching the ninth innings with one run on one hit.
“I think these guys are good hitters,” Baker said. “The whole game, they were hitting the ball right at guys. The fact that they didn’t hit one at somebody, it happens.”
Frank Jones is a sportswriter for SportsFanTreasures.com check out his Minnesota Twins Merchandise or his Minnesota Twins Ornaments