Game 1 of 2: Royals 4 vs. Twins 5 — FINAL

Game Time: 2:37 —Attendance: 24,153
WP: Romero (2-0); LP: Cerda (1-2); SV: Nathan (5)
 

PROPS TO:

*Johan Santana – Gave up a big three run home run but gave 7 quality innings striking out 10, the one mistake to Sweeney was good for 3 runs, at least he got a few more runs so he wasn’t stuck with a loss, not his best, but not bad.

*Joe Mauer – Got the Twins on the board in the first inning with a solo home run and caught his third strait game.

*Torii Hunter – Went 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored.

*Jacque Jones – Big two run home run in the second to give the Twins a 3-0 lead. Also walked twice tonight.

*Shannon Stewart – Coming up big with a base hit up the middle to score the go ahead run.

*Mike Sweeney – A big three run home run in the 3rd inning to give the Royals the lead.

*Juan Rincon and Joe Nathan – Rincon was able to get the Twins to the bottom of the 8th with the tie to give them the chance to go ahead. Nathan had a 1-2-3 inning striking out two.

 

FLOPS TO:

*Twins offense – Ford and Tiffee came up with no outs and bases loaded in the first, a pop out and double play made for another scoreless inning after the bases were loaded with less than two outs. Rivas was hit by a pitch in the 5th, Stewart then grounded into a double play, Castro doubled in the same inning and Mauer grounded out. Mauer and LeCroy both reached in the 7th but Hunter bounced into yet another double play.

*Royals bullpen – They could not come through and get Lima out of trouble and lost the game.