Final
Twins 5, Royals 3
Starting pitcher performance
With a bullpen that has been heavily taxed in recent days — the Twins employed a bullpen day on Thursday and have seen a number of shorter starts in the past week or so — seven innings from Zebby Matthews was badly needed.
Matthews wasn’t quite as sharp as normal — he did issue four walks — but settled in nicely after a first inning in which he gave up a pair of runs. Matthews walked Bobby Witt Jr. and then allowed a pair of doubles, producing the two runs. He would only give up three more hits over the rest of his outing.
He has now thrown four quality starts in five outings since returning to the majors in May.
Big plays
Matthews can, in part, thank right fielder Austin Martin for his final line.
Martin made his impact felt with his arm on Friday, fielding a well-struck single by Michael Massey and sending it back home in time to nab Jac Caglianone, who was trying to score for the second out in the fourth inning. A few innings later, Martin did it again, throwing Isaac Collins out at the plate to end the seventh inning.
He also doubled in the win.
Key moment
The Twins, trailing by a run entering the sixth inning, finally broke through off Royals starter Michael Wacha in the sixth inning.
Brooks Lee led off the inning with his ninth home run of the inning. Kody Clemens and Josh Bell’s back-to-back doubles produced another run and Bell scored on Orlando Arcia’s single. Arcia came around to score the team’s fourth run of the inning on a wild pitch.
Injury update
Byron Buxton leapt up as he reached his glove out for Carter Jensen’s fly ball to deep center. He came down with the ball safely in his glove, but momentum carried him a couple steps forward and he slammed into the center field wall, winding up on his back.
After a visit from Derek Shelton head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta, Buxton remained in the game, catching another fly ball that inning. But he was pinch hit for in the bottom of the frame and the Twins announced a right shoulder contusion for the center fielder.
Up next
Joe Ryan (4-3, 3.20) will take the ball for the third game of the series against the Royals, set to begin at 1:10 p.m. He will be opposed by Luinder Avila (1-2, 4.44 ERA).
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.twincities.com ’
