Pro Sports

Twins power past Royals in 2nd game to split doubleheader

Posted May 21, 2017 7:00 am

By TYLER MASON

Minnesota Twins' Chris Gimenez rounds the bases on a solo home run off Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Chris Young in the fourth inning during the second game of a baseball doubleheader Sunday, May 21, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Adalberto Mejia made the most of his brief stint back in the majors with the Minnesota Twins by getting his first big-league win.

Robbie Grossman, Max Kepler and Chris Gimenez all homered to help Mejia and the Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 8-4 in the second game Sunday to salvage a split of a doubleheader.

Mejia (1-1) was the Twins' 26th active player for the second game and allowed three runs in seven innings, on two home runs by Salvador Perez - who also went deep in the first game.

Mejia's reward for his first win? A trip back to Triple-A Rochester.

"I'm going to go down there and work on the things they told me work on," Mejia said through interpreter Carlos Font. "Then it will be up to them to see when I get back."

Grossman and Kepler each hit two-run homers in the first inning, and Brian Dozier had an RBI double in the second off Ian Kennedy (0-4) in his first game back from the disabled list.

Brandon Moss hit two of Kansas City's four home runs in the opener of the doubleheader, and Perez and Jorge Bonifacio each hit two-run homers to lead the Royals to a 6-4 win earlier in the day.

With the split, the Twins are now 7-1 on the year against the Royals. Kansas City's win in the first game snapped a seven-game losing streak against Minnesota.

Kennedy, who returned after missing time with a hamstring strain, said he felt fine physically. He walked three batters and gave up a pair of two-run homers in just two innings Sunday.

"He was way out of whack," manager Ned Yost said. "His leg was fine. He felt normal, felt good. Just timing was off, rhythm was off."

MINOR'S WIN

Mike Minor's road back to the majors was not an easy one. Shoulder surgery kept him out of the majors for two years and resulted in a move to the bullpen.

Minor got his first victory since 2014 with 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief in the first game Sunday. He relieved Jake Junis with a 5-2 lead in the fifth, two outs and two on. The 29-year-old left-hander walked Max Kepler, then retired Kennys Vargas on a popup. Minor retired the side in order in the sixth.

Minor had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder in May 13, 2015, and did not appear in the major leagues in 2015 and 2016. Minor, who signed a $7.25 million, two-year contract with the Royals in February 2016, got his first major league victory since Aug. 28, 2014, for Atlanta.

JUNIS' FIRST START

Kansas City's Jake Junis, a 24-year-old right-hander, was recalled from Triple-A Omaha and made his first big league start after a pair of relief appearances. He allowed two runs, five hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings, leaving after RBI singles from Brian Dozier and Miguel Sano.

Junis found out Saturday that he would be making his first career start. He didn't pitch deep enough to get the win, but impressed manager Ned Yost before the Royals optioned Junis back to Omaha after the game.

"I thought he did a nice job," Yost said. "We tried to get him through that fifth inning, but we needed to win this game."

ROYALS MOVES

Kansas City left fielder Alex Gordon missed the second game to join his wife, who is due to give birth on Monday. Infielder Raul Mondesi replacing Gordon on the roster but was optioned to Triple-A Omaha after the game. That means LHP Miguel Almonte, initially the Royals' 26th active player Sunday, remains on the 25-man roster. ... RHP Al Alburquerque was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for Junis.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Royals: RHP Nate Karns had his pitching arm evaluated after Friday's start against Minnesota. Manager Ned Yost said fluid was found in the elbow area but Karns does not have a strain. Karns exited his start Friday after five innings and threw just 72 pitches due to stiffness in his arm.

Twins: RHP Phil Hughes was placed on the 10-day disabled list Sunday with shoulder discomfort. Hughes took the loss in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader. Right-hander Kyle Gibson will take Hughes' place on the roster.

UP NEXT

Royals: LHP Jason Vargas (5-2, 2.03 ERA) starts Monday's series opener at the New York Yankees.

Twins: RHP Kyle Gibson (0-4, 8.20 ERA) will be recalled from Triple-A Rochester to start Monday against Baltimore.

___

More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Minnesota Twins' Max Kepler jogs home on his two-run home run off Kansas City Royals pitcher Ian Kennedy in the first inning during the second game of a baseball doubleheader, Sunday, May 21, 2017 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) The Associated Press

Minnesota Twins pitcher Adalberto Mejia throws against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning during the second game of a baseball doubleheader Sunday, May 21, 2017 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) The Associated Press

Minnesota Twins' Robbie Grossman rounds third base on a two-run home run off Kansas City Royals pitcher Ian Kennedy in the first inning during the second game of a baseball doubleheader Sunday, May 21, 2017 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) The Associated Press

Kansas City Royals pitcher Mike Minor throws against the Minnesota Twins in the sixth inning during the first game of a baseball doubleheader Sunday, May 21, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid) The Associated Press

Kansas City Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain, center, celebrates the Royals 6-4 win against the Minnesota Twins by going under a bridge by left fielder Alex Gordon, left, and right fielder Jorge Bonifacio after the first game of a baseball doubleheader, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid) The Associated Press

Kansas City Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar (2) reaches but false to make the catch on a single by Minnesota Twins' Kennys Vargas in the second inning during the first game of a baseball doubleheader Sunday, May 21, 2017, in Minneapolis. Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain, left, moves in on the play.(AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid) The Associated Press

Kansas City Royals' Brandon Moss, center, is congratulated after hitting a solo home run off Minnesota Twins pitcher Phil Hughes in the fourth inning during the first game of a baseball doubleheader Sunday, May 21, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid) The Associated Press

Kansas City Royals' Jorge Bonifacio rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning off Minnesota Twins pitcher Phil Hughes during the first game of a baseball doubleheader Sunday, May 21, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid) The Associated Press

Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton makes a diving catch near second baseman Brian Dozier (2) on a ball hit by Kansas City Royals' Jorge Bonifacio in the sixth inning during the first game of a baseball doubleheader Sunday, May 21, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid) The Associated Press

Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier, left, tags out Kansas City Royals' Whit Merrifield, right, in the eighth inning during the first game of a baseball doubleheader Sunday, May 21, 2017, in Minneapolis.(AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid) The Associated Press

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