Twins take 3 of 4 from Royals

Game 1

Bert Blyleven for The Twins and Dick Drago for the Royals engaged in a pitcher's duel that ended with the Twins holding out 3-2. Blyleven scattered 4 hits across the first 7 innings before yielding to a succession of Twins relievers who held on for the victory. The score was still knotted at 1-1 in the top of the 9th, but the Twins got a walk by Jimmie Hall, a single by Corey Koskie, a walk to PH Tom Brunansky, and a single by Rod Carew to take the lead 2-1. Corbett retired 2 batters in the ninth and Mijares the last to preserve the 1-run margin. The Royals had no stolen bases in this game, but that was about to change. 

Game 2

Twins starter Dave Goltz was strong, yielding only 2 runs on 7 hits across 7 innings, as the Twins beat the Royals 4-2. KC started strong as Lead off batter Tom Goodwin singled, stole 2nd, stole 3rd, and scored on a Mike Aviles single. This was KC's only run until the 8th, when John Wathan singled, advanced on an error, was sacrificed to third, and scored on a sac fly to close the gap to 3-2. Goodwin would end up with 4 sb in the game. Twins' Marty Cordova hit a 2-run homer in the 4th to give a lead they would not relinquish. Doug Corbett, pitching for the second time in 2 games, pitched a perfect 8th and 9th to preserve Goltz' win. 

Game 3

The Royals scored 5 runs in the first 3 innings and added another 2 in the 5th to take a lead they would not relinquish, as they beat the Twins 10-5. Twins starter Kevin Tapani gave up 13 hits and 7 earned runs in a little over 5 inning worked. Tom Goodwin stole his 5th base of the season and Seitzer and Beltran hit homers for the Royals in support of starter Kevin Appier. 

Game 4

The Twins started with a bang, getting 4 runs in the bottom of the 1st as Denard Span tripled to lead off the inning and Justin Morneau homered to highlight it. Twins starter Francisco Liriano yielded 11 hits and 3 runs in a little over 6 innings, but pitched just well enough to win. Iron man Doug Corbett earned his 2nd save of the young season with a scoreless 9th. 

--submitted by Bill Schneider--