By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The Kansas City Royals have put a seven game losing streak in the rearview mirror, winning a second game in a row and shutting out the Minnesota Twins 5-0 at Kauffman Stadium.
Tommy Pham gave the Royals the lead in the bottom of the third, an RBI double scoring Kyle Isbel. They would extend the lead in the fourth on Michael Massey's 12th home run of the season.
Kansas City scored for a third inning in a row, driving in two runs with MJ Melendez and Bobby Witt Jr scoring on a single from Hunter Renfroe who recently returned from the injured list. A sacrifice fly from Yuli Gurriel would bring in Dairon Blanco for the final run.
Cole Ragans pitched six shutout innings, giving up just four hits and walking one, while striking out seven batters. Ragans third strikeout of the game of Royce Lewis was his 200th of the season, making Ragans the first Royal since Zack Greinke in 2009 to achieve that mark in a season. He's also the teams first left hander to hit 200 strikeouts in a season.
The other four Royals who have recorded 200 strikeouts in a single season are Greinke (242 in ‘09), Kevin Appier (207 in 1996), Dennis Leonard (244 in '77) and Bob Johnson (206 in '70).
After Ragans left the game, the bullpen shutdown the Twins, James McArthur, Sam Long, and John Schreiber combining for three no hit innings and striking out four. Massey led the way hitting going 3 for 3 in the game, driving in one run on his solo home run.
The Royals and Twins will be back in action on Saturday, right hander Alec Marsh taking the mound for Kansas City against right hander Bailey Ober for Minnesota. First pitch will be at 6:10pm with pregame at 5:30 on KFEQ.