Game 12 vs. Minnesota

This was an almost surreal blend of the Old Royals and the New Royals.

For much of the game the guys played like the hapless team we’d gotten used to over the course of three decades. Though the Twins weren’t exactly mounting major offense, somehow we never seemed to catch a break against them. Un-thrilling moments included two errors in one inning by players (Mike Moustakas and Omar Infante) who really shouldn’t have. Then in the bottom of the ninth a MLB-premiere rookie pinch running for Sal Perez got stuck in a run-down. Sigh.

But then somehow the Spirit of the Postseason re-entered the ballpark in the bottom of the tenth. Lorenzo Cain – sorry, make that 2014 ALCS MVP Lorenzo Cain – hit a lead-off double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and then barely beat the tag at the plate on a weak single by designated hitter Jarrod Dyson.

Paul Molitor’s appeal was the second of the game, both of which went the Royals’ way. Nothing like a game that ends twice.

We also stayed for the fireworks after the game.

TWINS (2) AT ROYALS (3)

TWINS                AB  R  H BI  ROYALS               AB  R  H BI
Brian Dozier          5  0  0  0  Alcides Escobar       2  0  1  0  
Torii Hunter          4  0  1  0  Mike Moustakas        5  0  0  0  
Joe Mauer             3  0  0  0  Lorenzo Cain          4  2  3  1  
Trevor Plouffe        4  0  0  0  Eric Hosmer           5  0  0  0  
Eddie Rosario         4  1  1  0  Kendrys Morales       4  0  2  1  
Miguel Sano           4  1  2  1   Jarrod Dyson         1  0  1  1  
Kurt Suzuki           4  0  0  0  Alex Gordon           4  0  0  0  
Eduardo Escobar       4  0  1  0  Salvador Perez        4  0  1  0  
Aaron Hicks           3  0  0  1  Alex Rios             4  1  2  0  
                                  Omar Infante          3  0  1  0  
TOTALS               35  2  5  2  TOTALS               36  3 11  3

TWINS                         010 010 000 0 -- 2  
ROYALS                        001 000 010 1 -- 3  

LOB--TWINS 5, ROYALS 10. ERR--Omar Infante, Mike Moustakas.
2B--Eddie Rosario, Miguel Sano, Kendrys Morales, Lorenzo
Cain. SACF--Aaron Hicks. SACB--Omar Infante, Alcides
Escobar. SB--Lorenzo Cain.

 TWINS                           IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Tommy Milone                   6.00    5    1    1    2    5    0
Blaine Boyer                   1.00    0    0    0    0    0    0
Casey Fien                     1.00    2    1    1    0    0    0
Ryan Pressly                   0.33    2    0    0    1    0    0
Aaron Thompson                 1.00    2    1    1    0    1    0
 ROYALS                     
Jeremy Guthrie                 7.33    5    2    2    1    4    0
Ryan Madson                    0.67    0    0    0    0    1    0
Greg Holland                   1.00    0    0    0    0    2    0
Wade Davis                     1.00    0    0    0    0    0    0

WP--Aaron Thompson. SO--Joe Mauer, Trevor Plouffe, Brian
Dozier, Eddie Rosario (2), Miguel Sano (2), Kendrys Morales,
Alex Gordon (2), Eric Hosmer (2), Salvador Perez. BB--Joe
Mauer, Alcides Escobar (2), Lorenzo Cain.