The Royals waited a long time to score their first run on Wednesday afternoon and luckily it was the quality, not the quantity of offense that proved to be the difference in their 1-0 win over the Twins. With the score tied at 0-0 in the bottom of the ninth, Emil Brown laced a single to score Denny Hocking.
The Twins set a team record by recording 13 hits and not scoring. The Royals had never given up that many runs and finished with a shut out.
Minnesota certainly had its chances. In the ninth, they put runners at second and third with one out, when reliever Mike MacDougal sent a pitch to the backstop. Brent Abernathy, who was at third darted for home, then changed his mind. Royals’ catcher Paul Phillips fired back to third and Abernathy was tagged out.
MacDougal got the win, despite giving up two hits.
With the win the Royals avoided setting a franchise record for losses in a month. They finished August 5-21.