Kansas City Royals score early and often in blowout victory vs. Minnesota Twins

Since arriving in the big leagues, Minnesota Twins starter Joe Ryan has been the Kansas City Royals’ personal kryptonite.

Ryan dominates the Royals with each start. In 10 career games, Ryan had posted an 8-0 record and 1.34 ERA alongside 64 strikeouts. The Royals had scored nine total runs against him.

So when Ryan’s name appeared as Saturday’s projected starter, well, maybe the Royals were going to be in for a long and rough night.

And yet, that’s why baseball is a beautiful sport. The Royals exacted their own measure of revenge against their arch nemesis.

KC scored five runs in the first inning and chased Ryan early in the game. He lasted two innings as the Royals steamrolled the Twins 11-2 on Saturday at Kauffman Stadium.

“He’s just had a lot of success against us,” Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino said of Ryan. “So any time you can put runs on a guy like that is huge. To be able to get five in the first there and get him out after two (innings), you can’t ask much more than that.”

The Royals were determined offensively. All nine hitters came to the plate — and some were methodical against Ryan — in the first inning. The Royals demonstrated patience and diligently worked favorable counts before landing the knockout blow.

Mike Yastrzemski began the game with a leadoff walk. Next, Maikel Garcia — who started at shortstop with Bobby Witt Jr. nursing back spasms — followed with a walk.

Then, the Royals opened the floodgates. Pasquantino hit an RBI double and Salvador Perez followed with a three-run homer. Later, Nick Loftin doubled as the Royals scored all five runs on Ryan in the frame.

“We put pressure on him, made him throw strikes and forced him to walk some guys,” Pasquantino said. “That’s about as good as it gets.”

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli had seen enough. Ryan was replaced in the third inning by right-handed reliever — and former Royal — Thomas Hatch. It was Ryan’s shortest outing since exiting due to injury against the Chicago Cubs last season.

The Royals continued to add on. Kansas City native Carter Jensen recorded his first career hit in the fourth inning. He laced an RBI double into right field as Jac Caglianone came around to score.

Meanwhile, seven of the nine starters recorded a hit.

“I knew I had to bust it and get there,” Jensen said of his first hit being a double.

The run support was enough for Royals starter Stephen Kolek. The right-hander made his second start with the organization on Saturday. And, he demonstrated why he could be in line for more starts in the future.

Kolek allowed two earned runs in seven innings. He scattered six hits and worked around potential trouble in the third frame.

“It was really kind of, ‘hey, let’s keep the momentum,’” Kolek said of his outing. “Let’s fill it up that much more and let’s get ourselves back in the dugout so we can continue to pile on runs.”

The Twins recorded consecutive extra-base hits against Kolek. James Outman hit a ringing double and Minnesota star Byron Buxton followed with an RBI triple. Buxton later scored as the Twins cut into the lead.

However, Kolek settled down and retired the side. And he did so again in the seventh inning by striking out three consecutive batters to strand two baserunners.

“Yeah, I don’t do that very often,” Kolek said. “So that was really nice to get out of a jam like that and to finish on a strong note.”

Kolek picked up his first win with the Royals. He has impressed since arriving from the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline.

The Royals (73-69) won their third consecutive game. The win sets them up to potentially secure a winning homestand with a sweep on Sunday afternoon.

Bobby Witt Jr. injury update

The Royals played Saturday’s game without Witt in the lineup. He missed the contest due to low back spasms sustained on Friday.

Witt had an MRI prior to the game. The Royals awaited the results as Witt was still dealing with some discomfort.

“We just think it’s a back spasm,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “You know, nothing showed up negatively or poorly in the MRI. So we feel good about that. We just have to wait for the symptoms to resolve.”

This season, Witt is hitting .294 with 21 home runs and 77 RBIs. He has dealt with back tightness before and missed one game in early August.

AL Wild Card update

The Royals continue to make ground in the American League Wild Card race. And it was a successful Saturday night for the club.

After defeating the Twins, the Royals remained just a game behind the Seattle Mariners (74-68) for the third and final wild-card spot. The Mariners snapped a four-game losing streak with a 10-2 win over the Atlanta Braves.

A third team in the mix — the Texas Rangers (73-70) — was also in action, against the Houston Astros. The Rangers lost and that allowed the Royals surge in front of them by a half game.

What’s next: The Royals conclude their three-game series against the Twins on Sunday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium. Right-handed starter Michael Lorenzen (5-9, 4.54 ERA) will oppose fellow righty Bailey Ober (4-7, 5.23 ERA).

Kansas City Royals score early and often in blowout victory vs. Minnesota Twins

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