If you could conjure up the best possible scenario for dropping two out of three games against a team in your own division in a tight race, this would have been it. The Royals actually increased their lead in the A.L. Central, thanks to the Rangers who swept the White Sox this weekend. Meanwhile the Royals avoided a sweep to the Twins with a 5-4 win yesterday. The final result is the Royals extended their lead over Chicago to three games while the Twins cut their deficit to the Royals to three games. Darrell May was the starting pitcher and he lasted into the seventh inning before Tony Pena pulled him. The decision was weather-related, as temperatures soared into triple-digits. May got the win, improving to 6-5 and Curtis Leskanic got his first save as a Royal. Raul Ibanez hit his 16th homer, driving in two runs and Joe Randa hit his 12th homer. Carlos Beltran drove in two runs. Pitcher Runelvys Hernandez, who was blasted for nine runs on Saturday, has been sent to the minors. Jose Lima will take his place.
