You know it had to happen sooner or later. The Royals lose for the first time this year. A close one 4-3 at Minnesota. The Twins win on a squeeze play in the bottom of the 4 th inning.
The Royals scored their three runs in the first two innings. Mark Grudzielanek and Billy Butler with two hits apiece. Grudzielanek is hitting .500 so far this season. Butler, catcher John Buck, and Jose Guillen picked up the Royals’ RBI.
A double, sacrifice bunt and squeeze bunt in the bottom of the 4 th led to the Twins go ahead run. After that, pitching took over. With the way the game started, you would have expected more scoring, but the Royals were shut down from there as start Scott Baker, and relievers Pat Neshek and Joe Nathan held the Royals to just three hits over the last seven innings. Royals starter John Bale pitched 6 1/3 innings giving up four runs on 10 hits.
The Royals and Twins again this afternoon at 1 o’clock.
