Twins win first night game at Target Field
Minnesota Sports- Scott Baker threw seven solid innings, and Michael Cuddyer knocked in three runs, as Minnesota got to Zack Greinke early and topped Kansas City, 10-3, in the first night game at Target Field.
Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Scott Baker threw seven solid innings, and Michael Cuddyer knocked in three runs, as Minnesota got to Zack Greinke early and topped Kansas City, 10-3, in the first night game at Target Field.
Baker (2-1) allowed seven hits and two runs while fanning six to pick up his second straight victory.
Orlando Hudson and J.J. Hardy each added two-run hits in the eighth inning for the Twins, who won for the eighth time in 10 games since a season-opening loss in Anaheim.
Greinke (0-2), the American League's reigning Cy Young Award winner, was charged with six hits and four runs -- two earned -- over five frames. He also walked five and matched that number in strikeouts. It's a big departure from last year when the right-hander won his first six starts and finished the season with a 3.55 ERA. The sub-par beginning in 2010 has resulted in a 3.57 ERA through three games.
Yuniesky Betancourt homered and had two RBI for the Royals, who were coming off winning two of three in Detroit.
The Twins took the early advantage in the opener of the three-game set by scoring twice in the third inning. Denard Span singled with one out, and Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau walked with two down. Cuddyer then doubled to right field.
Betancourt homered to center with two outs in the fifth, but the Twins plated two more in the bottom of the inning. Hudson led off with a single, and Morneau had a base hit with one out. Cuddyer was safe on a fielding error from third baseman Willie Bloomquist. Jason Kubel walked to force in a run and Delmon Young followed with a sacrifice fly to center for a 4-1 lead.
David DeJesus tripled to start the KC sixth and scored on Billy Butler's single, but the Twins scored after loading the bases with nobody out against Kyle Farnsworth in the bottom half. Mauer's sac fly off Dusty Hughes drove in Brendan Harris.
Hudson tacked on a two-run double in the eighth off Robinson Tejeda. Hudson then scored on Cuddyer's single off Juan Cruz, and Hardy added a two-run single.
Betancourt singled in Alberto Callaspo in the ninth inning.
Tags: mn sports, proam, baseball, twins
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