By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The Kansas City Royals bad run against Minnesota Twins starter Joe Ryan continued on Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium, as the Royals managed just two hits off the right hander, falling to the Twins 4-0 to snap a three game winning streak.
In his career against the Royals, Ryan has been lights out. The right hander has a 7-0 record in nine career starts across 55.1 innings with a 1.30 ERA, striking out 59 batters. Last season, Ryan faced the Royals twice, going 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA.
Minnesota opened the scoring in the fourth inning with an RBI single by Edouard Julien that drove in Carlos Correa. Correa scored again in the sixth inning on a single into right field by Ty France. Matt Wallner hit a solo home run in the eighth, and France hit a home run of his own in the ninth for the final runs, it was their first home runs of the season.
Ryan set the tone with seven scoreless innings. He needed just 85 pitches while allowing two hits. He didn't walk anyone and he struck out four. The only Royals to get to him were Maikel Garcia with a single in the third inning and Bobby Witt Jr. with a double in the fourth. Ryan retired the last 11 batters he faced before Twins manager Rocco Baldelli took a risk and went to Griffin Jax, who has been struggling, in the eighth. Jax gave up a single to Cavan Biggio but got out of the frame unscathed.
Seth Lugo took the loss for the Royals, pitching 5.2 innings, striking out six batters, while giving up two runs on five hits. He walked three. Sam Long surrendered the home run to Wallner, while Chris Stratton gave up the one to France.
The Royals and Twins wrap up their four game series tomorrow. Michael Wacha looks for his first win of the season on the mound for Kansas City against Bailey Ober for the Twins, also seeking his first win. First pitch will be joined at 1:10 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.