Michael Lorenzen pitched well and Isbel homered
The Kansas City Royals defeated the Minnesota Twins 4-2 in tonight’s series opener with our frenemies up north. Michael Lorenzen pitched well and Kyle Isbel hit the first home run of his season in the effort.
After a very nice one-two-three top of the first by Michael Lorenzen, the Royals struck quickly. Jonathan India hit a booming double to left-center field that lead Byron Buxton to crash into the wall. Considering that the name “Byron Buxton” and the verb “crash” and the noun “wall” tend to equate to “injury,” it was good for everybody that Buxton stood up unfazed.
Who was not unfazed was one Simeon Woods Richardson. Vinnie Pasquantino hit a “double” of his own (read: a bloop to left, misplayed by Harrison Bader (he made up for it in the seventh inning with two killer hit-robbing diving catches)) that scored India to make it 1-0, Royals.
While the Twins would counter-punch in the top of the second inning with doubles by Ty France and Willi Castro, the Royals quickly regained the lead in the bottom of the second. MJ Melendez led off with an aesthetically perfect double to right-center field. Consecutive singles by Maikel Garcia and Kyle Isbel—the latter of which being of the infield variety—scored Melendez. A Bobby Witt Jr. forceout scored Garcia to make it 3-1
Put up ✌️ more in the second!
The Royals kept getting additional hits, but they couldn’t quite provide the dagger to send Woods Richardson to the showers; Woods Richardson managed a strong six innings and limited Kansas City’s damage.
But with a parting shot, Isbel crushed a hanging changeup for his first home run of the year. It was a beaut.
Izzy to the bullpen!
Well, technically, the parting shot was Rocco Baldelli getting tossed from the game for arguing a pitch clock violation that resulted in a Jonathan India walk. It was an entertaining few minutes, as Baldelli got into it and did the whole ‘kick the home plate’ thing and everything. From there, Hunter Harvey worked his way through the seventh without much problem.
Then, Lucas Erceg made it interesting.
Erceg immediately walked Matt Wallner, making Royals fans a little on edge that the hitters couldn’t drive out Woods Richardson earlier with more damage. But Erceg struck out Carlos Correa in an epic 12-pitch plate appearance and Sheriff Sal threw out Wallner at second base; Wallner had foolishly decided to attempt to advance on a wild pitch Salvy kept in front of him. One routine out later and it was done.
But then Carlos Estevez made it really, really interesting. Estevez got a quick out but then immediately lost all control. He hit France with a pitch that was too up and too in, struck out Jose Miranda, and walked Willi Castro to bring Bader to the plate. Bader singled, bringing up the winning run to the plate—Edouard Julen. Wanting to make it a party on the basepaths, Estevez nearly walked him, too, before coaxing a hard-hit grounder to Michael Massey.
Ultimately, the Royals eked out a 4-2 win. They are now 5-5, with the Twins at 3-7. The Royals and the Twins will play three more games here at Kauffman Stadium to complete Kansas City’s homestand. Next Friday, the Royals will travel to Cleveland to kick off a 10-game road trip.