The Royals gave up a late 1-0 lead to the Twins and lost 2-1 at Kauffman Stadium Tuesday. Pitching has been a problem for the Royals, with an ERA just under 6.00 this season. But Scott Elarton gave them all the help you could ask for, but it wasn’t enough. Elarton lasted seven innings and held the Twins to just three hits, two walks and no runs. He was given a 1-0 lead thanks to an RBI from Mark Grudzielanek in the fourth inning.

It stayed 1-0 until Ruben Sierra singled in a run off reliever Luke Hudson in the eighth inning to tie it in. Hudson then allowed Shannon Stewart to single, which moved Sierra to third base. Andrew Sisco replaced Hudson who got Luis Castillo to foul out for the first out of the inning. Joe Mauer flied to left for the second out, but pinch-runner Nick Punto scored from third to give the Twins the lead.

Hudson was charged with both runs and got the loss. Elarton (0-4) got the no decision.