Live-Blogging: Kansas City Royals at Minnesota Twins 09/20/2019

MLB: Kansas City Royals at Minnesota Twins 09/20/2019

Hello and welcome to another edition of ‘Live Blogging on Shish on Baseball’. Tonight it is Kansas City Royals taking on Minnesota Twins. Last Night the Twins needed a 2 HR, 5 RBI night from Nelson Cruz to defeat Royals. With the win, the Twins’ Magic Number is down to 6 games. For the Royals, they are just hoping to win out, to avoid. a 100-loss season.

​Tonight’s Starting Pitchers are left-hander Eric Skoglund for the Royals and right-hander Randy Dobnak for the Twins. Skoglund comes in with a K/BB ratio of 0.29 K/BB, while averaging 3.91 P/PA.

Starting Lineups:
Kansas City Royals:
1. Whit Merrifield, RF
2. Adalberto Mondesi, SS
3. Jorge Soler, DH
4. Hunter Dozier, 3B
5. Alex Gordon, LF
6. Ryan McBroom, 1B
7. Erick Mejia, CF
8. Nicky Lopez, 2B
9. Nick Dini, C
SP: Eric Skoglund

Minnesota Twins:
1. Mitch Garver, C
2. Jorge Polanco, SS
3. Nelson Cruz, DH
4. Eddie Rosario, LF
5. Miguel Sano, 3B
6. Marwin Gonzalez, RF
7. C.J. Cron, 1B
​8. Jonathon Schoop, 2B
9. Ryan Lamarre, CF
SP: Randy Dobrak
​

Royals are in their visiting gray uniforms, with blue caps with 'KC' on it. While the Twins are in their alternate red jerseys and caps, with a 'TC' on it, and home white pants. 

Top of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. Merrifield
2. Mondesi
3. Soler 
​Randy Dobnak (RHP) now starting as Twins Pitcher.
First Pitch around 7:11 p.m. CDT.
Merrifield fouls out to Cron. 1 out.
​Mondesi strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
​Soler strikes out swinging. 3 outs.
Royals go down 1-2-3, in their half of 1st Inning.

Middle of 1st Inning:
KC 0, MIN 0

Bottom of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. Garver
2. Polanco
3. Cruz 
Erick Skoglund (LHP) now starting as Royals Pitcher.
​Garver draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st.
​Polanco doubles down right field line. Garver advances to 3rd. Runners on 2nd & 3rd.
​RBI-SACRIFICE-FLY: Cruz hits an RBI-Sacrifice-Fly to Mejia. Garver scores. Polanco advances to 3rd. Runner on 3rd. KC 0, MIN 1
Rosario fouls out to Dozier. 2 outs.
RBI-TRIPLE: Sano hits an RBI-Triple to right center field. Polanco scores. KC 0, MIN 2
Gonzalez gets another pitch, after McBroom does not catch the foul ball, by first base. 
Gonzalez flies out to Mejia. 3 outs.
Twins get 2 runs, in their half of 1st Inning.

End of 1st Inning:
KC 0, MIN 2

Top of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
4. Dozier
5. Gordon
6. McBroom
Dobnak currently at 14 pitches.
​MLB Scores:
Dozier grounds out to Polanco. 1 out.
Gordon gets hit by a pitch. Runner on 1st.
McBroom singles to right field. Gordon advances to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Mejia reaches on 3-6 fielder's choice. McBroom is out at 2nd. Gordon advances to 3rd. Runners on 1st & 3rd. 2 outs.
Lopez flies out to LaMarre. 3 outs.
Royals strand a pair of base runners.

Middle of 2nd Inning:
KC 0, MIN 2

Bottom of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
7. Cron
8. Schoop
9. LaMarre
Skoglund currently at 23 pitches.
​Cron ends a 10-pitch at-bat, by lining out to Gordon. 1 out.
Schoop flies out to Gordon. 2 outs.
LaMarre lines out to Gordon. 3 outs.
Twins go down 1-2-3, in their half of 2nd Inning.

End of 2nd Inning:
KC 0, MIN 2

Top of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
9. Dini
1. Merrifield, 0-1
2. Mondesi, 0-1
Dobnak currently at 25 pitches.
​NCAA FBS Scores:
Dini gets hit by a pitch. Runner on 1st.
Merrifield strikes out swinging. 1 out.
Mondesi reaches on 3-6 fielder's choice. Dini is out at 2nd. Runner on 1st. 2 outs.
With Soler at-bat, Mondesi steals 2nd Base. Runner on 2nd.
Soler draws a base on balls. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
TWINS MOUND VISIT #1: MVR: KC 5, MIN 4
With Dozier at-bat, Soler and Mondesi stole 2nd & 3rd. Runners on 2nd & 3rd.
Dozier pops out to Schoop. 3 outs.
Royals strand a couple of base runners.

Middle of 3rd Inning:
KC 0, MIN 2

Bottom of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
1. Garver, 0-0
2. Polanco, 1-1
3. Cruz, 0-0, RBI
Skoglund currently at 46 pitches.
​Garver grounds out to Mondesi. 1 out.
Polanco flies out to Mejia. 2 outs.
Cruz doubles to left field. Runner on 2nd.
Rosario grounds out to Lopez. 3 outs.
Twins strand a base runner.

End of 3rd Inning:
KC 0, MIN 2

Top of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
5. Gordo, 0-0
6. McBroom, 1-1
7. Mejia, 0-1
Dobnak currently at 49 pitches.
​Gordon grounds out to Schoop. 1 out.
McBroom singles to left field. Runner on 1st.
DOUBLE PLAY: Mejia grounds into 3-6-3 double play. 3 outs.
Royals side is retired. 

Middle of 4th Inning:
KC 0, MIN 2

Bottom of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
5. Sano, 1-1, RBI
6. Gonzalez, 0-1
7. Cron, 0-1
Skoglund currently at 66 pitches.
​Sano grounds out to Dozier. 1 out.
Kevin McCarthy (RHP) warming up in Royals Bullpen.
Gonzalez grounds out to Mondesi. 2 outs.
Cron grounds out to Lopez. 3 outs.
Twins go d own 1-2-3, in their half of 4th Inning.

End of 4th Inning:
KC 0, MIN 2

Top of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
8. Lopez, 0-1
9. Dini, 0-0
1. Merrifield, 0-2
​Dobnak currently at 58 pitches.
MLB Scores:
Lopez draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st.
TWINS MOUND VISIT #2: MVR: KC 5, MIN 3
Cody Stashak (RHP) warming up in Twins Bullpen.
Dini lines out to Gonzalez. 1 out.
Merrifield gets called out on strikes. 2 outs.
Mondesi gets called out on strikes. 3 outs.
Royals strand a base runner.

Middle of 5th Inning:
KC 0, MIN 2

Bottom of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
8. Schoop, 0-1
9. LaMarre, 0-1
1. Garver, 0-1
PITCHING CHANGE: Kevin McCarthy (RHP) replaces Eric Skoglund, as Twins Pitcher.
Schoop flies out to Gordon. 1 out.
​NCAA FBS Scoreboard 
LaMarre gets called out on strikes. 2 outs.
Devin Smeltzer (LHP) warming up in Twins Bullpen.
Garver grounds out to Mondesi. 3 outs.
Twins go down 1-2-3, in their half of 5th Inning.

End of 5th Inning:
KC 0, MIN 2

Top of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
3. Soler, 0-1
4. Dozier, 0-2
5. Gordon, 0-1
Dobnak currently at 73 pitches.
​Soler singles to left field. 
Dozier grounds out to Garver. Soler advances to 2nd. Runner on 2nd. 1 out.
PITCHING CHANGE: Cody Stashak (RHP) replaces Randy Dobnak, as Twins Pitcher. KC 0, MIN 2
​RBI-DOUBLE: Gordon hits an RBI-Double down right field corner. Soler scores. KC 1, MIN 2
McBroom gets called out on strikes. 2 outs.
Mejia strikes out swinging. 3 outs.
Royals get a run, but strand a base runners.

Middle of 6th Inning:
KC 0, MIN 2

Bottom of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
2. Polanco, 1-2
3. Cruz, 1-1
4. Rosario, 0-2
​PITCHING CHANGE: Gabe Speier (LHP) replaces Kevin McCarthy, as Twins Pitcher.
Polanco draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st.
Scott Barlow (RHP) warming up in Royals Bullpen. 
Cruz pops out to Merrifield. 1 out.
Rosario reaches on 4-6 fielder's choice. Polanco is out at 2nd. Runner on 1st. 2 outs.
PITCHING CHANGE: Scott Barlow (RHP) replaces Gabe Speier, as Royals Pitcher. KC 1, MIN 2
​Sano draws a base on balls. Rosario advances to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
RBI-DOUBLE: Gonzalez hits a 2-run double down right field line. Rosario and Sano score. KC 1, MIN 4
​Cron hits an infield single dying midway between home and third. Gonzalez advances to 3rd. Runners on 1st & 3rd.
Kyle Zimmer (RHP) warming up in Royals Bullpen.
Schoop grounds into 6-4 fielder's choice. Cron is out at 2nd. 3 outs.
Twins get 2 runs, off the RBI-Double by Marwin Gonzalez. 

End of 6th Inning:
KC 1, MIN 4

Top of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
8. Lopez, 0-1
9. Dini, 0-1
1. Merrifield, 0-3
​PITCHING CHANGE: Devin Smeltzer (LHP) replaces Cody Stashak, as Twins Pitcher.
Lopez grounds out to Polanco. 1 out.
​Dini grounds out to Polanco. 2 outs.
MLB Scores:
Merrifield strikes out swining. 3 outs.
Royals go down 1-2-3, in their half of 7th Inning.

Middle of 7th Inning:
KC 1, MIN 4

Bottom of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
9. LaMarre, 0-2
1. Garver, 0-2
2. Polanco, 1-2
PITCHING CHANGE: Kyle Zimmer (RHP) replaces Scott Barlow, as Royals Pitcher.
​PINCH-HITTING: LaMonte Wade, Jr. pinch-hitting for Ryan Lamarre.
Wade grounds out to Mondesi. 1 out.
Garver flies out to Mejia. 2 outs.
Polanco lines out to Lopez. 3 outs.
Twins go down 1-2-3, in their half of 7th Inning.

End of 7th Inning:
KC 1, MIN 4

Top of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
2. Mondesi, 0-3
3. Soler, 1-2
4. Dozier, 0-3
​Smeltzer currently at 13 pitches.
Mondesi reaches on throwing error by Sano. Mondesi advances to 2nd. Runner on 2nd. 
Brusdar Graterol (RHP) warming up in Twins Bullpen.
Soler draws a base on balls. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
PITCHING CHANGE: Brusdar Graterol (RHP) replaces Devin Smeltzer, as Twins Pitcher. Runners on 1st & 2nd. KC 1, MIN 4
RBI-SINGLE: Dozier hits an RBI-Single to right field. Mondesi scores. Soler advances to 3rd. Dozier is out at 2nd, by the throw by Gonzalez. Gonzalez to Polanco on the put out. Runner on 3rd. 1 out. KC 2, MIN 4
Gordon hits an RBI-Groundout to Schoop. Soler scores. 2 outs. KC 3, MIN 4
McBroom singles to left center field. Runner on 1st.
Mejia singles to center field. McBroom advances to 3rd. Runners on 1st & 3rd.
TWINS MOUND VISIT #3: MVR: KC 5, MIN 2
NCAA FBS Scores:
Lopez grounds out to Graterol. 3 outs.
Royals get a couple of runs, thanks to a throwing error and a walk.

Middle of 8th Inning:
KC 3,  MIN 4

Bottom of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
3. Cruz, 1-2, RBI
4. Rosario, 0-3
5. Sano, RBI
​Zimmer currently at 10 pitches.
Cruz grounds out to Mondesi. 1 out.
PITCHING CHANGE: Randy Rosario replaces Kyle Zimmer, as Royals Pitcher.
​E. Rosario grounds out to Lopez. 2 outs.
Trevor May (RHP) warming up in Twins Bullpen.
Sano grounds out to Mondesi. 3 outs.
Twins go down 1-2-3, in their half of 8th Inning.

End of 8th Inning:
KC 3, MIN 4

Top of 9th Inning:
Due Up:
9. Dini, 0-2
1. Merrifield, 0-4
2. Mondesi, 0-4
PITCHING CHANGE: Trevor May (RHP) replaces Brusdar Graterol, as Twins Pitcher.
​DEFENSIVE SUBSTITUTION: Ian Miller replaces LaMonte Wade, Jr. at center field. 
PINCH-HITTING: Ryan O'Hearn pinch-hitting for Nick Dini.
O'Hearn strikes out swinging. 1 out. 
Merrifield gets called out on strikes. 2 outs.
Mondesi strikes out swinging. 3 outs.
Royals go down 1-2-3, to end the game.

Final:
KC 3, MIN 4
KC: (56-99)
MIN: (95-59)
W: Dobnak (1-1)
L: Skoglund (0-2)
SV: May (2)
PoG: Gonzalez (MIN) 1-3, 2 RBI, A
ToG: 3:00

Final Thoughts:
Twins needed to play small ball, offensively to pull this one out tonight. The Bullpen did exceptional, as this was a bullpen game led by tonight's starter Randy Dobnak. Dobnak started losing some control as his start reached the minimum for a win, but he was helped by defensive performance by C.J. Cron. For the Royals, they just couldn't get Merrifield and Mondesi going, as their 1-2 hitters were 0-10, tonight. 

The Twins are now 4 games ahead of the Cleveland Indians. And their magic number to clinching the A.L. Central is 5 games.

Royals will start Glenn Sparkman, while the Twins will throw Jose Berrios, tomorrow night. 

This is Paul Shishkoff, Jr. This has been 'Live Blogging on Shish on Baseball'. Thanks for visiting this page.
​​