Jason Vargas Shuts Down Twins

Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Royals took the rubber game of their series with Minnesota, winning 4-0 at Target Field in Minneapolis Wednesday afternoon behind 7 shutout innings from Jason Vargas.

Jason Vargas put in yet another good performance for the Royals, winning his 8th game against 3 losses. Raul Ibanez homered (4) in his 2nd game in the lineup, adding a much-needed power boost.

The win lifted the Royals to 44-40 on the season. Kansas City remains 4.5 games behind Detroit in sole possession of 2nd place in the American League Central.

On the Mound

Jason Vargas was terrific. He shut down the Twins for 7.0 innings, allowing only 4 hits, 2 walks, 0 earned runs with 5 strikeouts. Vargas is now 8-3 on the season with an excellent 3.32 ERA. He’s been a more than adequate replacement for Ervin Santana so far.

Wade Davis pitched a scoreless 8th inning, allowing no hits and striking out 2.

Greg Holland finished the 9th while allowing 1 walk and getting 1 strikeout. With a 4 run lead, it was not a save situation.

At the Plate

Overall, the Royals had 9 hits with 5 walks. They did just enough to scratch out 4 runs: 2 against Twins starter Keven Correia, and 2 against the bullpen.

Raul Ibanez had the best day, going 2-4 with a single, home run (4), 2 runs scored, and 1 RBI. Ibanez’s 8th inning solo shot added an important insurance run to put the team up 3-0.

Jarrod Dyson was the only other Royal with more than one hit, going 2-4, with 2 singles, and 1 RBI. Dyson also added his 13th stolen base on the season.

Alcides Escobar scored the Royals final run in the top of the 9th after leading off the inning with a double. Eric Hosmer picked up the RBI when he followed with a single to score Escobar.

Eric Hosmer had a good game. Hosmer reached safely four times, going 1-2 with his RBI single, and 3 walks.

This and That

The Royals continue to play well on the road. Wednesday’s win puts them at 23-18 on the road. The team is 1 game under .500 at home.

Josh Willingham robbed Alcides Escobar of at least a double with a nice leaping catch against the left-field wall in the 2nd inning with 1 out and runners on 1st and 2nd. The Royals were already up 2-0 at the time, but Willingham’s play allowed Correia to escape without further damage.

Before the game, the Royals optioned struggling Mike Mariot back to AAA, and recalled Casey Coleman.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

Our nod goes the Raul Ibanez who hit his 1st home run for Kansas City in 11 years. Ibanez became the oldest Royal to ever hit a home run. After getting 3 hits in his first 8 ABs since his return to KC, Ibanez is providing a much needed jolt to the offense.

Perhaps Jason Vargas got robbed—you can’t do better than a shutout. But, the Royals need offensive help more at this point.

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• Billy Butler – 2
• Raul Ibanez
• Jarrod Dyson – 2
• Lorenzo Cain – 5
• Johnny Giavotella
• Wade Davis
• Norichika Aoki
• Salvador Perez – 5
• Jeremy Guthrie  – 5
• Jason Vargas – 6
• Alex Gordon – 9
• Bruce Chen
• James Shields – 6
• Yordano Ventura – 4
• Mike Moustakas
• Danny Duffy – 6
• Omar Infante – 3
• Mike Moustakas – 4
• Alcides Escobar – 5
• Eric Hosmer – 9
• Michael Mariot

The Twins

Kevin Correia made a quality start for the Twins, going 6.0 innings, while allowing 6 hits, 2 walks, and 2 earned runs with 3 strikeouts. The solid outing was a welcome sight from Correia, who came into the game with a 5.74 ERA.

Up Next

The Royals travel to Cleveland to open a 3 game series. The Royals will send Yordano Ventura (5-7, 3.26 ERA) to the mound against Josh Tomlin (5-5, 3.78 ERA) for the Indians. Game time is 6:05 CST at Jacobs Field in Cleveland.

Box

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

2B: O Infante (8, off K Correia); A Escobar (24, off G Perkins).
HR: R Ibanez (4, off C Fien, 8th inn, 0 on, 1 out to Deep RF).
HBP: S Perez (3, by K Correia).
TB: R Ibanez 5; A Escobar 2; O Infante 2; J Dyson 2; S Perez; E Hosmer; M Moustakas.
RBI: R Ibanez (22); M Moustakas (31); E Hosmer (36); J Dyson (11).
Team LOB: 10.
With RISP: 3 for 9.
Fielding
DP: 1. M Moustakas-O Infante-E Hosmer.
Baserunning
SB: J Dyson (13, 2nd base off K Correia/E Fryer); E Hosmer (3, 2nd base off G Perkins/E Fryer).

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

TB: C Parmelee 2; T Plouffe; S Fuld.
GIDP: T Plouffe (7).
Team LOB: 6.
With RISP: 0 for 3.
Baserunning
SB: S Fuld (8, 2nd base off J Vargas/S Perez).

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

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

Balks: None.
WP: None.
HBP: K Correia (3; S Perez).
IBB: None.
Pickoffs: None.