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 Minnesota Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson regained his mastery over
Kansas City during a 2-0 victory Thursday night.
The first-place Royals lost their fourth straight, matching their
season high, while the second-place Twins inched within 3 1/2 games
of the lead in the American League Central.
Gibson (6-6) limited the Royals to four hits, all singles and two of
them bunts, over eight innings. He walked four and struck out seven.
"Boy, was he great," Twins pitching coach Neil Allen said,
succinctly describing Gibson's performance.
Gibson won his first four starts against Kansas City but lost the
past two before Thursday. In the two-game skid, he gave up nine runs
(seven earned), which was five more than allowed in his first four
starts against the Royals.
Gibson's five victories against Kansas City are his highest total
against any club.
"We did a good job of running up his pitch count (114)," Royals
manager Ned Yost said. "He was just on top of his game. He was just
outstanding."
Center fielder Danny Santana's RBI triple in the fifth inning
knocked in the game's first run. It was Santana's first extra-base
hit since May 20.
The Twins added a run in the ninth when shortstop Eduardo Escobar's
triple scored pinch runner Shane Robinson.
Gibson faced some eighth-inning rigors. Second baseman Omar Infante
hit a leadoff single. Jarrod Dyson ran for Infante and stole second
base, his ninth swipe in 10 attempts, but that was as far as Dyson
would go. After walking third baseman Mike Moustakas with one out,
Gibson struck out center fielder Lorenzo Cain and retired first
baseman Eric Hosmer on a groundout.
"You want to try to get your guys to bulldog through outs late in
game," Twins manager Paul Molitor said of leaving Gibson in the
eighth.
Gibson said he wasn't surprised Molitor left him to face Hosmer, a
left-handed hitter, adding, "It showed they had a lot of confidence
in me."
Glen Perkins worked the ninth, converting his 26th consecutive save
opportunity.
"(Catcher Kurt Suzuki and I) were on the same page," Gibson said.
"It seemed like every time I shook him off, they hit the ball
hardest. The defense played well behind me."
Royals right-hander Chris Young (7-4) was removed after 5 1/3
innings and 90 pitches. He allowed six hits, three for extra bases,
walked one and uncorked three wild pitches, but he yielded just one
run.
"Gibson was great," Young said. "He was locating all his pitches. It
was a pretty impressive performance. Gibson was better than me."
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Twins first baseman Joe Mauer singled to lead off the sixth, moved
up on a wild pitch, and third baseman Trevor Plouffe bunted him to
third. Left-hander Franklin Morales replaced Young, and he struck
out left fielder Eddie Rosario and designated hitter Miguel Sano,
who was making his major league debut, to end the inning.
The Twins broke on top 1-0 with in the fifth. Suzuki opened the
inning with a double, moved to second on Escobar's sacrifice bunt
and scored on Santana's triple to the left-center gap that rolled to
the fence.
The Royals loaded the bases on two singles -- one of them a bunt by
Hosmer -- and a walk in the fourth, but Gibson pitched out of danger
when catcher Salvador Perez looked at a called third strike to end
the inning.
"I think we had really two run-scoring opportunities, one with the
bases loaded and two outs, and in the eighth inning," Yost said. "He
just made quality pitches in those spots."
NOTES: The Twins promoted DH/3B Miguel Sano, a blue-chip prospect,
from Double-A Chattanooga. He debuted at designated hitter, batting
sixth, and went 1-for-4 with an infield single. Sano said his mother
Melania would get the ball from his first hit. ... Royals LHP Jason
Vargas, who is on the disabled list with a left flexor strain, threw
a 40-pitch simulated game. ... 1B Eric Hosmer returned to the
Royals' lineup after missing three games in Houston with a sprained
right ring finger. ... RHP Ervin Santana, who was suspended the
first 80 games after testing positive for performance enhancing
drugs, will make his Twins debut Sunday, starting against the
Royals. Santana pitched in 2014 for Kansas City. ... The Royals
opened an 11-game homestand after having only 11 home games since
May 25. They played 16 of their past 21 games on the road.
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