The Minnesota Twins rewarded fans who stuck around through the end of the game with a little excitement. However, a ninth inning rally ultimately fell short, and the Twins lost to the Kansas City Royals by a final score of 4-3. It was the third straight loss for the Twins.
Hours after signing a two-year, $7 million contract extension, Ryan Doumit hit a run-scoring single in the second inning to pull the Twins within one. Doumit was starting at the designated hitter spot, while Joe Mauer worked behind the plate.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Twins found some life. Denard Span walked to lead off the inning, and Ben Revere reached on an infield single. Joe Mauer then smacked a double off Jonathan Broxton to send Span home and Revere to third. Josh Willingham grounded out after Mauer's hit, but it was enough to push Revere in and make it one-run ball game. Broxton then got Justin Morneau to pop out, and the next hitter, Trevor Plouffe, fouled out to third to end the game.
Starter Brian Duensing got the hook after four innings. He allowed three runs on eight hits in what was just his second start of the season.
The Twins and the Royals are back in action on Saturday at 1:10 p.m. Eastern for the second game of their weekend series.
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