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MLB: Kansas City 9, Minnesota 8
MINNEAPOLIS, (UPI) -- Wilson Betemit hit his first two home runs of the year Thursday and the Kansas City Royals built a seven-run lead before fighting off Minnesota 9-8.
It was the first two-homer game in Betemit's career. Mitch Maier added a two-run shot to help the Royals avoid a three-game sweep.
The Twins batted around and scored five times in the seventh to cut their deficit to 8-6 but the Royals increased their advantage to three runs
on Betemit's second homer of the game in the ninth.
That score turned out to be crucial when the Twins scored twice in their half of the ninth. A two-out double by Joe Mauer drove in the first run of the inning and Mauer scored on a single by Justin Morneau to bring the Twins within one.
Joakim Soria, however, got Michael Cuddyer on a fly ball to deep right to end the game. Soria picked up his 14th save and preserved the win for Bruce Chen (3-0), who gave up five runs on 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings.
The loss went to Scott Baker (5-5), who allowed five runs on eight hits in five frames.
MINNEAPOLIS, (UPI) -- Wilson Betemit hit his first two home runs of the year Thursday and the Kansas City Royals built a seven-run lead before fighting off Minnesota 9-8.
It was the first two-homer game in Betemit's career. Mitch Maier added a two-run shot to help the Royals avoid a three-game sweep.
The Twins batted around and scored five times in the seventh to cut their deficit to 8-6 but the Royals increased their advantage to three runs
on Betemit's second homer of the game in the ninth.
That score turned out to be crucial when the Twins scored twice in their half of the ninth. A two-out double by Joe Mauer drove in the first run of the inning and Mauer scored on a single by Justin Morneau to bring the Twins within one.
Joakim Soria, however, got Michael Cuddyer on a fly ball to deep right to end the game. Soria picked up his 14th save and preserved the win for Bruce Chen (3-0), who gave up five runs on 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings.
The loss went to Scott Baker (5-5), who allowed five runs on eight hits in five frames.
