Morales’ three-run shot in the fifth inning was his 23rd of the season and gave Kansas City the lead after a pair of Brian Dozier home runs staked the Twins to an early lead. He has 25 home runs since the All-Star break.
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Unsurprisingly, Dozier is sporting some impressive numbers from the dish on the season, slashing.278/.349/.580 with a.385 wOBA and.301 ISO through 595 plate appearances. Yost’s crew used long balls by Kendrys Morales and Eric Hosmer as part of a 16-hit attack to improve to 12-2 in the season series and stay four games back of a wild-card spot in the American League.
The defending World Series champions regained their winning touch Monday, despite Brian Dozier hitting three home runs for Minnesota.
“That’s a tough one”, said Twins manager Paul Molitor.
Gardner leapt and collided with the outfield wall with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the ninth, but was able to catch a would-be three-run extra-base hit off the bat of Blue Jays slugger Justin Smoak to secure a 7-6 win at Yankee Stadium.
CARDINALS 12, PIRATES 6: Adam Wainwright drove in three runs and survived five occasionally bumpy innings to pick up his first victory since mid-July as the St. Louis Cardinals drummed the staggering Pittsburgh Pirates.
Dozier’s homer into the left-field seats was his 39th home run and 18th career lead-off blast, and came on the third pitch of the game.
The Twins turn to Jose Berrios, fresh off his umpteenth recall from the minors this season. The rookie right-hander has allowed a total of 18 runs over his last four starts with Minnesota and was optioned to Rochester following his last outing on August 25 against Detroit, when he gave up five earned runs on six hits and five walks in five innings of work. OF Reymond Fuentes and RHP Nick Tepesch were designated for assignment to make room. The Twins recalled RHP Tyler Duffey from Triple-A Rochester. Perez could be back in the lineup by Friday. First Twins player to hit more than 35 HR since Harmon Killebrew in 19715.
Several Twins players wore green t-shirts with a yellow kangaroo on it and four stars, one for each of Beresford’s career homers.
Royals: OF Lorenzo Cain missed his fifth straight game because of left wrist inflammation. He is listed as day to day.
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Yost said he thought he might have to get a exhausted bullpen up early when Gee served up long balls to Dozier, Trevor Plouffe and Eddie Rosario in the first two innings. Plouffe left after falling behind 1-2 and was replaced by Vargas.
