Josh Willingham’s Three-Run Double Keys Royals Win

The Kansas City Royals opened a 1.5 game lead over the Tigers with the Royals 6-5 win over the Twins in Minnesota Friday night. Ex-Twin Josh Willingham‘s double cleared loaded bases in Kansas City’s 5-run 4th inning that broke open the game.

The big inning made a winner of starter Danny Duffy (8-10) and gave the Royals their 3rd straight win.

The victory puts Kansas City 13 games over .500 at 67-54, and opened a 1.5 game lead in the American League Central over Detroit, who lost to the Blue Jays. Kansas City also continues to hold a 1 game edge over Seattle for the 2nd wild card.

On the Mound

Danny Duffy put in a solid, if short outing. Duffy went 5.1 innings, allowing 6 hits, 0 walks, and 3 runs (2 earned) with 1 strikeout. He left the game with the Royals leading 5-3 in the 6th.

Aaron Crow allowed 1 hit and got 1 out in the 6th.

Francisley Bueno got the final out of the scoreless 6th inning.

Kelvin Herrera pitched a clean 7th inning with 2 strikeouts.

Wade Davis added a scoreless 8th, though he allowed 1 hit with 1 strikeout.

Greg Holland wobbled but corrected himself to notch his A.L.-leading 37th save. Holland allowed a walk, then a double to Oswaldo Arcia that scored a run when Lorenzo Cain misplayed the ball in RF. Chris Parmalee then ground out to drive in a 2nd run. Overall, Holland gave up 1 hit, 1 walk, and 2 runs (1 earned) with 1 strikeout.

At the Plate

The Royals did most of their damage in their 5-run 4th inning, but added an important “insurance run” in 8th that turned out to be the difference in the game.

Trailing 2-0, Josh Willingham slammed a double to clear loaded bases to put Kansas City up 3-2. Willingham went 1 for 4 with the double, 1 run scored, and 3 RBI’s.

Mike Moustakas followed Willingham’s blow with an infield single, and Alcides Escobar picked up both runs with a triple. Escobar’s shallow single in the 8th inning scored Alex Gordon to give KC a 6-3 lead. Escobar went 2 for 4 with 3 RBI’s on the day.

Alex Gordon and Jarrod Dyson also checked in with 2-hit games. Gordon went 2-3 with 2 runs scored, while Dyson went 2 for 4 along with his 27th stolen base.

This and That

Kansas City is 13 games above .500 for the first time since April 26, 2003.

Despite the best back-end in baseball, the Royals are still only 17-21 in 1-run games—even after you include Friday’s win.

Eric Hosmer‘s x-ray Thursday showed his hand is not healed and he will not have it checked against until after Kansas City returns home from their current 10-game road trip.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

With a nod to Alcides Escobar’s 2-hit, 3 RBI game, our pick goes to Josh Willingham for opening the floodgates on Twins starter Ricky Nolasco with his bases-clearing double into the right field corner.

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• Josh Willingham
• Billy Butler – 8
• Jason Frasor
• Francisley Bueno
• Danny Valencia
• Christian Colon
• Raul Ibanez
• Jarrod Dyson – 2
• Lorenzo Cain – 6
• Johnny Giavotella
• Wade Davis
• Norichika Aoki  – 5
• Salvador Perez – 6
• Jeremy Guthrie  – 3
• Jason Vargas – 7
• Alex Gordon – 11
• Bruce Chen   – 5
• James Shields – 10
• Yordano Ventura – 5
• Danny Duffy – 7
• Omar Infante – 4
• Mike Moustakas – 9
• Alcides Escobar – 6
• Eric Hosmer – 12
• Michael Mariot

The Twins

Minnesota catcher Kurt Suzuki didn’t make an out on Friday, going 3 for 3 with 2 singles, a double, 1 walk, and 1 run scored.

Up Next

The Royals continue with the 2nd game of their 4-game set in Minnesota. Yordano Ventura (9-8, 3.46 ERA) will pitch for Kansas City against ex-Yankee Phil Hughes  (12-8, 3.88 ERA) for the Twins. Game time is 6:10 PM CST at Target Field in Minnesota.

Box

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

2B: S Perez (20, off R Nolasco); J Willingham (7, off R Nolasco).
3B: J Dyson (4, off R Nolasco); A Escobar (4, off R Nolasco).
HBP: A Gordon (8, by R Nolasco).
TB: J Dyson 4; A Escobar 4; J Willingham 2; A Gordon 2; S Perez 2; M Moustakas 2; B Butler; L Cain.
RBI: A Escobar 3 (40); J Willingham 3 (37).
2-out RBI: A Escobar.
Team LOB: 7.
With RISP: 5 for 19.
Fielding
DP: 1. O Infante-A Escobar-B Butler.
E: D Duffy (4); L Cain (2).
Baserunning
SB: J Dyson (27, 2nd base off C Thielbar/K Suzuki); L Cain (18, 2nd base off R Pressly/K Suzuki).

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

2B: K Suzuki (24, off D Duffy); T Plouffe (32, off D Duffy); J Mauer (19, off W Davis); O Arcia (11, off G Holland).
SH: D Santana (2, off D Duffy).
TB: K Suzuki 4; T Plouffe 2; O Arcia 2; J Mauer 2; E Escobar; J Schafer; K Vargas.
GIDP: O Arcia (5).
RBI: O Arcia (30); C Parmelee (22); B Dozier (52).
Team LOB: 5.
With RISP: 1 for 11.
Fielding
DP: 1. J Mauer-E Escobar.

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

Balks: None.
WP: J Burton (1).
HBP: R Nolasco (1; A Gordon).
IBB: None.
Pickoffs: Non