Schafer Drives In 4, Twins Top Royals 11-5 In 10th
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jordan Schafer tied a career high with four RBIs, including a two-run single in the 10th inning Thursday night as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Kansas City Royals 11-5.
Bruce Chen (2-4), the sixth pitcher for the AL Central-leading Royals, gave up five hits and walked two in the 10th.
Eduardo Nunez singled home the go-ahead run and Brian Dozier added a two-run double. Kurt Suzuki capped the burst with an RBI double, his third hit of the game and second double.
Schafer had three hits and extended his hitting streak to eight games.
Anthony Swarzak (3-1) picked up the victory.
Alex Gordon homered off Ryan Pressly to lead off the Royals seventh, tying it at 5.
Twins lefty Tommy Milone was pulled after 5 1-3 innings, giving up four runs on nine hits and two walks. He is winless in four starts since the Twins acquired him in a July 31 trade with Oakland.
Royals right-hander Jeremy Guthrie, who was 5-1 in his previous six starts, exited after six innings. He gave up five runs on nine hits and two walks.
The Twins took a 2-0 lead in the first, which included a double by Suzuki. The Royals countered with two runs in the bottom half, with Gordon and Salvador Perez hitting RBI singles.
Minnesota forged ahead with two more runs in the fourth. Schafer hit an RBI double and scored on Dozier's single.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: 1B Joe Mauer didn't start for the first time since returning Aug. 11 after missing 34 games with a right oblique strain. "I watched him last night," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "I thought he was dragging a little bit. You've got to do it for him. He's in the training room, getting treatment every day like everybody else. Because he missed so much time, you sit there and say, 'Boy, we need him in there.' But he's going to have to have a break. He's not as young as some of those other guys out there." Mauer walked as a pinch-hitter in the 10th and stayed in the game to play 1B.
Royals: LHP Scott Downs (stiff neck) was activated from the disabled list. ... 1B Eric Hosmer (fractured right hand) participated in batting practice for the first time since going on the disabled list Aug. 1. ... RHP Michael Mariot (right hamstring injury) was recalled from Triple-A Omaha and transferred to the 60-day disabled list.
UP NEXT
Twins: Rookie RHP Trevor May yielded five runs on 11 hits in 5 1-3 innings in his Saturday start, a loss to the Tigers, and is looking for his first big league victory Friday night at Baltimore.
Royals: LHP Jason Vargas will start the series opener against the Indians. He has a 1.24 ERA in his 10 wins and a 6.29 ERA in his six losses.
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