|
 Kratz, who didn't enter the game until the seventh inning,
connected on solo homers in the seventh and ninth innings Monday,
helping the Royals to a 6-4 win over the Minnesota Twins at Target
Field.
The victory was the Royals' third in the four-game series here and
moved them to two full games ahead of idle Detroit atop the American
League Central standings.
Everyday backstop Salvador Perez started the game and played through
the sixth inning. But manager Ned Yost removed him from the game
with him due up third in the top of the seventh inning. Kratz
snapped his bat on the first pitch he saw, but hit it hard enough to
clear the wall in left for his third career pinch-hit home run.
"When it goes well, it's a simple game," Kratz said with a chuckle.
"When it doesn't go well, it's a maddening game."
In the ninth, Kratz did it again, taking Twins right-hander Ryan
Pressly over the wall for his first multi-homer game since Triple-A.
For Kratz, a former Pirate and Phillie who was acquired in a trade
from Toronto on July 28, the home runs were his first and second as
a Royal.
"I have some experience pinch hitting, coming from the National
League, with the way the roster is made up with the Phillies, I've
got quite a few hits as a pinch hitter," Kratz said. "My first
career home run was actually as a pinch hitter."
Both homers seemed inconspicuous at the time they were hit. Starter
Jason Vargas was on cruise control and the Twins offense had been
sputtering all night. Kratz's homer in the ninth made it 6-1, but
Trevor Plouffe's three-run blast in the bottom half of the inning
turned a run-away into a close game.
"They're always big for us," Yost said. "Even though you have a
five-run lead, the possibility of it getting to a two- or three-run
lead exists."
Vargas was nearly flawless through seven, allowing only a solo homer
to Oswaldo Arcia in his final inning of work. Before that, it was
three harmless singles. In between, Vargas retired 10 in a row
through the middle innings, allowing only the four hits and a walk
en route to his 10th win of the year.
Closer Greg Holland entered after the Plouffe homer in the ninth and
got the final two outs in order for his 38th save.
After a disastrous first start in the majors Aug. 9 against Oakland,
Twins right-hander Trevor May got a second chance -- this time at
home. And through four innings, May looked in control, allowing only
a pair of singles and a two-out double.
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But as they did in his first outing, the walks finally caught up to May in
the fifth. After getting third baseman Mike Moustakas to line out to
start the inning, May walked three of the next four hitters he faced.
"I have no lack of confidence. I see a definite upward trend in how things
are going," May said. "It's all stuff that's happened to me in my career
where I've gone through rough patches and there's always adjustments
that need to be made."
Three straight singles followed, scoring three runs and knocking May
from the game.
"When things snowball, they happen kind of quickly," said Twins bench
coach Terry Steinbach. "He got to that fifth inning and the next thing
you know, a couple walks, a couple hits, and all of a sudden you're in
trouble and before you blink there's three runs on the board."
May lasted twice as long as his debut, but still only made it through 4
2/3 innings, allowing the three runs on seven hits and four walks.
NOTES: Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was ejected for arguing balls and
strikes in the bottom of the first inning. It was the fifth time this
season and 72nd time of his career he has been ejected. ... Twins RHP
Trevor May made his Target Field debut Monday. He made his first major
league start Aug. 9 in Oakland, lasting only two innings, and entered in
relief on Aug. 12 against Houston. ... Twins prospect OF Byron Buxton is
suffering from headaches after a collision in a game at Double-A last
week. Twins GM Terry Ryan said he doesn't expect Buxton to play another
minor league game this season, but should be ready to play in the
Arizona Fall League in October. ... Royals 1B Eric Hosmer said he could
return to Kansas City on Thursday for X-rays on his fractured right
hand.
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