Kansas City, MO – Alex Gordon went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI and Alcides Escobar added to hits and a pair of RBI as the Kansas City Royals downed the Minnesota Twins, 5-2, on Wednesday.
Lorenzo Cain also drove in a run while Billy Butler and Eric Hosmer each collected two hits, including a double, and scored a run for the Royals, who are 15-4 since the All-Star break.
Louis Coleman (2-0) earned the win after tossing 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief and Greg Holland stranded a runner in the ninth for his 30th save.
"We've been playing well and you kind of want the ball with the game on the line," Holland said. "I don't know if three runs is really with the game on the line, but just to be out there when the game ends is pretty fun, especially when you're on the winning end of it."
Samuel Deduno (7-5) was tagged for four runs on 12 hits in 5 2/3 innings to absorb the loss.
Twins catcher Ryan Doumit, who went 1-for-2, is likely headed to the disabled list with concussion-like symptoms. He said after the game he just wasn't feeling right.
"It was the first day I actually felt like I actually exerted myself," Doumit said. "Being behind the plate is a different animal than DH-ing. I just didn't have it."
Minnesota wasted no time getting on the board as Brian Dozier scored on Danny Duffy's wild pitch. Dozier opened the game with a triple, his fourth of the season.
Escobar singled home Brett Hayes in the third to tie the game. Hayes doubled before coming around on Escobar's base hit to center.
The Twins pushed one across in the fourth to go up 2-1. Clete Thomas walked, moved to second on Pedro Florimon's groundout before scoring on a Dozier double to left field.
Gordon opened the home half with a solo homer and Escobar singled home Miguel Tejada later in the frame to give the hosts a 3-2 edge.
The Royals added one run in both the fifth and seventh.
In the fifth, Hosmer doubled, moved to third on a Butler single then scored on Cain's base hit to right field.
Gordon doubled home Butler in the seventh to account for the final difference.
Game Notes
The Royals have won six straight series ... Hosmer has hit safely in six straight games ... Kansas City went 5-for-14 with runners in scoring position ... The Twins were just 2-for-11 with RISP.
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