By MATT PIKE
The Kansas City Royals took a lead in the sixth inning, but Alex Lange's third blown save of the season gave the Minnesota Twins a 3-2 series opening win at Target Field.
After the Twins opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI single by Josh Bell, scoring Kody Clemens, the Royals took the lead in the top of the sixth inning scoring two runs. Josh Rojas walked to leadoff the inning and moved to third base on a single from Lane Thomas with one out. A double steal tied the game as Thomas took second base, and Rojas came home beating the throw by Twins shortstop Ryan Kreidler. After Jac Caglianone struck out for the second out, Kansas City took the lead on an RBI single by Salvador Perez, driving in Thomas for the 2-1 lead.
Daniel Lynch, John Schreiber, and Steven Cruz pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth innings before handing the ball off to Alex Lange in the ninth inning for the save. Victor Caratini led off the ninth with a single before Lange forced Luke Keaschall to line out to a diving Isaac Collins in left field. Brooks Lee walked, moving Caratini to second, and Lange then bounced back again striking out Kreidler for the second out. But with two outs, on a 1-1 count, Royce Lewis tripled driving in both Lee and Caratini for the walk off 3-2 win.
Royals starter Seth Lugo threw six innings giving up just one run on six hits while walking two and striking out two. Lange, with his third blown save fell to 1-6 on the season. At the plate, the Royals had just four hits, with Perez going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Thomas was 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored while Nick Loftin was 1-for-2.
Kansas City and Minnesota continue their series tomorrow. Joe Ryan (6-6, 3.38 ERA, 131K's) takes the mound for the Twins while the Royals have yet to announce their starter. First pitch is at 6:40pm, pregame at 6 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
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