Scott Baker outdueled reigning American League Cy Young award winner Zack Greinke to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 10-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Friday.
Michael Cuddyer was the first to get to Greinke, putting the Twins on top with a two-run double in the third. Greinke gave up two more in the fifth when he uncharacteristically walked Jason Kubel with the bases loaded and yielded a sacrifice fly to Delmon Young.
Baker (2-1) went seven innings, allowing two runs and scattering seven hits while striking out six to pick up his second win of the campaign.
Greinke (0-2) was pulled after five innings and four runs – two earned. He struck out five and issued five walks. The right-hander walked as many as four batters only once during his spectacular 2009 season.
Orlando Hudson had a two-run double and J.J. Hardy singled in a pair as the Twins put the game away with a five-run eighth.
Kansas City | Minnesota | |
Zack Greinke | Player | Scott Baker |
Loss | W/L | Win |
5.0 | IP | 7.0 |
5 | Strikeouts | 6 |
6 | Hits | 7 |
3.60 | ERA | 2.57 |
Kansas City | Minnesota | |
Yuniesky Betancourt | Player | Brendan Harris |
3 | Hits | 2 |
2 | RBI | 0 |
1 | HR | 0 |
6 | TB | 2 |
.750 | Avg | .667 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
Kansas City | 9 | 1 | 14 | .257 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Minnesota | 11 | 0 | 13 | .344 | 22 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 0 |