MLB Game Recap - Minnesota at Kansas City
Sun Jun 23, 2019 2:15 PM EDT

MIA
6
PHI
4
F
TOR
6
BOS
1
F
DET
3
CLE
8
F
SD
10
PIT
11
F(11)
ATL
4
WSH
3
F(10)
HOU
9
NYY
4
F
CIN
5
MIL
7
F
MIN
1
KC
6
F
NYM
3
CHC
5
F
CHW
4
TEX
7
F
TB
8
OAK
2
F
SF
2
ARI
3
F(10)
BAL
3
SEA
13
F
COL
3
LAD
6
F
LAA
6
STL
4
F

June 23, 2019 2:15 PM

Final

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

R

H

E

Minnesota

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

9

0

Kansas City

0

0

5

0

0

0

1

0

x

6

11

0

W: Bailey (7-6)

L: Pineda (4-4)

S: McCarthy (1)

MIN - HR: Rosario (20)

KC - HR: Dozier (12)

Dozier's 3-run homer sends Bailey, Royals over Twins 6-1
Sun Jun 23, 2019 6:13 PM

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) In the span of a week, Hunter Dozier went from the injured list to the delivery room to the star role in the Kansas City Royals' 6-1 win over the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins.

The young slugger hit a three-run shot during a five-run third inning Sunday, made a couple of stellar defensive plays at third base and gave Homer Bailey and the Kansas City bullpen all the offense they needed against the Twins on a soggy, overcast afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.

"I knew my timing was going to be off," said Dozier, who had been sidelined the last three weeks with an oblique strain. "I felt better today. Hopefully keep getting better and better."

Dozier returned to the team on Friday after spending the previous night in the hospital, where his wife gave birth to the couple's second child. And while he struggled at the plate in his first couple of games back, that timing seemed to have returned against Minnesota.

"They struck him out with a slider the first time up, and the second time they tried the same ploy," Royals manager Ned Yost said, "and it didn't work."

Bailey (7-6) only made one significant mistake, leaving a pitch over the plate that Eddie Rosario steered inside the right-field foul pole. Otherwise, the revitalized right-hander followed back-to-back scoreless starts against Detroit and Seattle by giving up five hits and a walk.

The Royals' bullpen shut down the Twins the rest of the way. Kevin McCarthy left the bases loaded in the seventh, then recorded the next six outs to earn his first career save.

"I'd hoped it would come a little sooner," he said, "but I'm glad I got it."

Alex Gordon added two RBIs and Nicky Lopez also drove in a run for the Royals, who did most of their damage against Michael Pineda (4-4) in the third inning. Pineda wound up lasting five, allowing eight hits while taking his first loss since May 5 at Yankee Stadium.

He didn't get much support as the Twins stranded 11 runners on base.

"Bailey threw the ball well. He had to work for everything, but he made good pitches when he had to," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "When you get that big hit or a couple of big hits, it can give you a lift. It's tough to get that first big hit with people on base, and we didn't get that."

With rain in the forecast, Bailey and Pineda engaged in a tidy pitchers' duel through the first couple innings. But that ended abruptly when Pineda took the mound in the third.

After retiring Martin Maldonado, the big right-hander gave up a base hit to Billy Hamilton - the first of what would become five straight. And they came in quite the variety: Whit Merrifield delivered on a hit-and-run, Lopez had a bunt single and Gordon doubled down the right-field line.

The big blow came from Dozier, though. His three-run shot soared over the visiting bullpen in left field, giving Kansas City a 5-0 lead and the youngster another boost in his All-Star bid.

Dozier is among the three AL finalists at third base in voting that begins Wednesday.

"In the third inning they got some soft contact. I hang one pitch, my slider and they hit a big homer," Pineda said. "That cost me the game. I just tried to compete."

Bailey's streak of 16 2/3 scoreless innings finally ended when Rosario cracked his 20th homer of the year leading off the fourth inning. But Bailey got a modicum of revenge in the sixth, when he struck out Rosario after a 14-pitch at-bat to conclude his afternoon.

STATS AND STREAKS

The Twins' Jorge Polanco extended his 36-game on-base streak with a single in the seventh. That is tied for fifth-longest in club history. ... Luis Arraez had his first four-hit game for Minnesota. ... Bailey has not allowed more than three runs in a start since April 30.

NEGRO LEAGUES SALUTE

The Royals wore uniforms of the 1942 Kansas City Monarchs and the Twins dressed as the St. Paul Gophers from 1908 for their throwback day at the K. It also was "Dressed to the Nines" day at the park, and many fans came dressed in suits, dresses and vintage clothing.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Twins OF Byron Buxton hit before the game to test his right wrist, and manager Rocco Baldelli said it's possible he could play Tuesday. "We have to make sure he's 100 percent before we activate him for a game," Baldelli said. "We're very close to making a decision." ... RHP Jose Berrios should make his next start despite leaving Saturday's game with a blister, Baldelli said.

UP NEXT

The Royals head to Cleveland on Monday night to open a three-game set with RHP Brad Keller (3-9, 4.45 ERA) on the hill. The Twins are off Monday before starting a three-game set against Tampa Bay.

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Pitchers of Record

Minnesota IP H ER BB K ERA WHIP
M. Pineda (L, 4-4) 5 8 5 0 5 9.00 1.600
Kansas City IP H ER BB K ERA WHIP
H. Bailey (W, 7-6) 5.1 5 1 1 5 1.69 1.125
K. McCarthy (S, 1) 2.1 2 0 0 2 0.00 0.857

Batting Leaders

Minnesota AB H R HR RBI BB TB SB RC
L. Arraez 4 4 0 0 0 0 5 0 5.0
M. Kepler 5 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 1.2
Kansas City AB H R HR RBI BB TB SB RC
H. Dozier 4 2 1 1 3 0 6 0 3.0
A. Gordon 4 2 1 0 2 0 4 0 2.0

Team Comparison

MIN KC
At Bats 36 34
Hits 9 11
Batting Average .250 .324
On Base Percentage .308 .324
Slugging Percentage 0.389 0.500
Doubles 2 3
Triples 0 0
Home Runs 1 1
Total Bases 14 17
Walks 1 0
Strikeouts 9 6
Stolen Bases 0 2
Caught Stealing 0 0
Runners Left On Base 11 4
Hits / At Bats with Runners In Scoring Position 0/5 3/6
Double Plays Fielded 3 0
Errors 0 0

2019 Reg Season - MIN Leads Series 6-3

Date Result Winner Loser
Tue Apr 2 MIN 5 @ KC 4 T. Hildenberger B. Boxberger
Wed Apr 3 MIN 7 @ KC 6 T. May W. Peralta
Fri Jun 14 KC 0 @ MIN 2 K. Gibson J. Diekman
Sat Jun 15 KC 4 @ MIN 5 J. Odorizzi G. Sparkman
Sun Jun 16 KC 8 @ MIN 6 J. Lopez M. Perez
Thu Jun 20 MIN 1 @ KC 4 G. Sparkman J. Odorizzi
Fri Jun 21 MIN 8 @ KC 7 R. Harper J. Diekman
Sat Jun 22 MIN 5 @ KC 3 T. May W. Peralta
Sun Jun 23 MIN 1 @ KC 6 H. Bailey M. Pineda

Game Information

Stadium: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Attendance: 21,257
Game Time: 3:9
Weather: 68F, Cloudy
Wind:
Umpires: Home Plate - ?, First Base - ?, Second Base - ?, Third Base - ?