The Royals blew a five-run lead in the ninth inning and lost, 9-8, in 10 innings to the Minnesota Twins. Reliever Joel Peralta gave up a three-run homer to pinch-hitter Craig Monroe that tied the score in the ninth and then gave up the game winner, a solo homer to Justin Morneau on his first pitch of the 10th.
Zack Greinke pitched well again for eight innings giving up three runs on five hits while striking out eight. The Royals took an 8-3 lead into the ninth.
The offense got going with three hits by Joey Gathright and Alex Gordon, two RBIs by Miguel Olivo, and an RBI single by Guillen.
Greinke pitched a career-high 117 pitches, and manager Trey Hillman went with reliever Ramon Ramirez in the ninth because of a big lead and because closer Joakim Soria had thrown two innings and 31 pitches in Tuesday night’s 12-inning loss to the Twins. He was on the don’t-use list.
Ramirez got two strikeouts, but got into trouble with four singles that scored two runs. Then Hillman went to Joel Peralta to face Craig Monroe, who hit a three-run shot to tie the game at 8-8. Justin Morneau led off the Twins’ 10th and belted Peralta’s first pitch into the right-field bullpen.
Jose Guillen is frustrated, Hillman talks about the bullpen, and Justin Morneau has never seen two crazier games
download/listen to Royals post-game (mp3)
