Shoddy Twins defense opens door to Royals 2-1 win

Cole Ragans had another stellar outing.

The Twins committed three errors that led to two unearned Royals runs, allowing them to win a tight 2-1 game on Tuesday night. Cole Ragans struck out 11, his seventh double-digit strikeout game with the Royals, passing Danny Duffy for most by a lefty in club history.

Ragans and Twins starter Pablo López were as-advertised, engaging in a terrific pitcher’s duel. The Royals were able to get to López in the fourth thanks to that shoddy Twins defense. Bobby Witt Jr. doubled and Vinnie Pasquantino reached on an booted ground ball by Mickey Gasper that allowed Witt to advance to third. Salvy hit a grounder to third that could have been a double play, but the Twins could only get the force at second, allowing Bobby to score. The Royals had a chance for more when Michael Massey reached on a throwing error by López that allowed Salvy to get to third, but Mark Canha struck out to end the threat.

The only blemish for Ragans came in the fifth when Ty France doubled. Harrison Bader lifted a flyball deep to left that hit off Mark Canha’s glove as he crashed into the wall, allowing France to score. Canha would exit the game with left hip soreness. Ragans would work six innings, allowing just four hits and the single run, striking out 11 with no walks.

The Royals would threaten again in the fifth when López allowed a single to Kyle Isbel and Jonathan India walked. López would have to exit the game after he clutched his hamstring after a pitch, leaving after 4 ²⁄₃ innings and six strikeouts. Reliever Cole Sands walked Bobby Witt Jr. to load the bases for Vinnie Pasquantino with two outs. Vinnie worked a long count, but just got under it, leaving a fly ball less than ten feet short of leaving the ballpark.

The poor Twins defense came to a head in the eighth. With one out, Bobby Witt Jr. faced the tough Griffin Jax and was only able to chop a dribbler that traveled just a few feet. But Jax air-mailed it over the head of his first baseman, and Bobby was off to the races, ending up at third. He was off on contact on a grounder hit by Vinnie Pasquantino, and there was not even a play at the plate as Bobby scored easily to give the Royals the lead.

With Lucas Erceg, Carlos Estévez, and Hunter Harvey unavailable after pitching each of the last two games, Matt Quatraro turned to John Schreiber. The right-hander escaped trouble in the eighth, but was able to record two quick outs in the ninth. Matt Quatraro turned to lefty Daniel Lynch IV to get the final out and record his second career save.

The Royals are over .500 for the first time this year at 6-5 with a three-game winning streak. They clinch no worse than a split of the four-game series and can take it tomorrow evening when Seth Lugo faces Joe Ryan at 6:40 CT.