By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
St. Joseph's Noah Cameron put on another solid starting performance in his third major league start, but Ty France hit a two run walk off home run off Lucas Erceg to give the Minnesota Twins a 3-1 win at Target Field in the series opener on Friday night.
The Royals opened the scoring in the first giving Cameron the lead when Cavan Biggio doubled home Jonathan India who was hit by a pitch to open the inning. Cameron retired the Twins 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first, but in the second inning, Carlos Correa led off the inning tying up the game with a solo home run.
After the home run, Cameron locked in, but so did Twins starter Pablo López as the score remained 1-1 until the ninth inning. Neither Cameron or López allowed a runner past second base while they were on the mound. López was pulled in the sixth inning with two outs after a Michael Massey single, while Cameron pitched into the seventh, also being pulled with two outs after walking Jonah Bride.
John Schreiber replaced Cameron and pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings striking out two before being replaced by Erceg in the ninth. Erceg struck out Trevor Larnach to open the inning, before giving up a single to Correa and then the home run to France, dropping Erceg to 1-1 on the season.
Cameron, in his no decision, pitched 6 2/3 innings giving up four hits and one run, striking out eight batters, a new career high, and walking one. On the season, Cameron has given up six hits, two runs, has walked six batters and struck out 14, his season ERA still staying below one at 0.93. At the plate, Pasquantino and Massey led the Royals, both going 2-4.
Kansas City and Minnesota continue their series tomorrow. Michael Wacha (3-4, 2.86 ERA) takes the mound for the Royals against Zebby Matthews (0-1, 12.00 ERA) for the Twins. First pitch is at 1:10pm, pregame coverage will begin at 12:30 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.