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7th-winning stretch: KC on a roll, in the mix
- Updated: August 21, 2016
KANSAS CITY — The defending World Series champions may not be done after all.
The Royals, after a miserable 7-19 July that plummeted them seemingly out of contention, suddenly can do no wrong in August. Behind Alex Gordon’s two home runs and yet another dominant performance by right-hander Ian Kennedy, the Royals thumped the Twins, 10-0, on Saturday night at Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals have won seven straight, are 14-5 in August, have won five straight series and are 4 1/2 games behind the Orioles for the second American League Wild Card spot.
“We’ve got everything going for us — starting pitching, the bullpen has been spectacular, our defense has been good and we’re starting to swing the bats well,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “That’s a good combination.”
Kennedy threw eight shutout innings, giving up four hits while striking out six and walking none. He now has pitched six or more innings while giving up one run or fewer in five straight starts — that ties a franchise record set by Larry Gura in 1981.
Told of tying a franchise mark, Kennedy said, “Shoot, I would have guessed that [Danny] Duffy’s been on that roll this whole time. … He’s been a stud, I’m trying to keep up with him.” Kennedy escapes trouble MIN@KC: Kennedy gets Suzuki to fly out to escape jamWith runners on the corners, Ian Kennedy gets Kurt Suzuki to fly out to right to end the top of the 2nd inning
Left-hander Hector Santiago started for the Twins and was chased after 4 2/3 innings. He gave up 11 hits and eight runs.
“There were too many pitches in the middle of the zone and too many mistakes,” Santiago said. “One thing kept happening after another. I’m trying not to put extra guys on base [via walks], but I’m also leaving pitches over the middle the plate. I’m in a spot where I’m more worried about throwing strikes than getting guys to chase.”
MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDNo stopping Gordon: Gordon extended his hitting streak to 11 games; he is 17-for-41 (.415) in that span. And with his two …
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