Royals bats silent on final Sunday

The Royals finish the season 12-3 down the stretch and did everything they could to play spoiler for the Minnesota Twins, but the bats came up silent in the season finale losing on the road 6-0.

Brandon Duckworth pitched well enough to keep the Royals in the ball game going six innings allowing two runs, one earned on two hits and four walks while striking out five.  The Twins scored single runs in the second and third innings.

The Twins opened up their lead in the seventh with two runs charged to Ron Mahay and then added two more in the eighth.  As far as the Royals’ offense, they struggled striking out 12 times, nine against winner Scott Baker who went seven shut out innings.

Mike Aviles had two of the teams five hits to finish the season with a .325 average.  He will definitely be a bright spot for the Royals 2009 team.

The Royals finish 75-87 and the worse they could do is tie for fourth place with Detroit.  The Tigers will play the White Sox on Monday in a make-up game.  If the Sox win, the Royals have sole possession of fourth and Chicago will play Minnesota in a one game playoff for the AL Central Division title.  A loss by Chicago will give the Royals the tie and the Twins the division.