Correia shelled again in Twins' 13-0 loss to Royals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jamey Carroll pitched a flawless eighth inning for the Minnesota Twins.

There are several things wrong with that picture. Carroll is a veteran infielder who last pitched as a 15-year-old playing Babe Ruth baseball.

But with the Kansas City Royals en route to a 13-0 shellacking of the Twins and Minnesota's bullpen overworked, Carroll volunteered to knock the rust off his arm and throw an inning.

"I got outpitched by a 38-year-old (actually 39) middle infielder," losing pitcher Kevin Correia said. "That's never good. I was just not able to get anybody out. I don't think I've every started a game where a position played pitched. I just didn't have good command of my stuff tonight."

Correia (7-8) was pulled after facing 16 batters in two innings, allowing six runs on seven hits and three walks. Correia has been rocked lately, not lasting more than two innings in two of his past three starts. He has given up 14 runs and 24 hits in just 9 2-3 innings.

Carroll, who became just the 10th position player to pitch for the Twins since 1961, retired the Royals in order in the eighth - two fly balls to the outfield and a ground out.

"We had only one player left on the bench," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Jamie said 'I want to do it.' I said, 'You're in.' I hope the pitchers watched."

" I just wanted to throw it and let them hit it," Carroll said. "I wanted to get the inning over as fast as possible.

"I want to say it was fun, but under the circumstances, not really. I was just trying to get in there and help us out. I went over to Andy (pitching coach Rick Anderson) and said, 'I'd be happy to save a guy if you want.' When they asked me I said, 'Yes.' I'm happy to help out any way I can."

Nothing would have helped the Twins win this night.

Jeremy Guthrie pitched a four-hitter and Eric Hosmer drove in a career-high five runs.

The Royals, who have won 12 of their past 13 games, scored a season-high 13 runs.

"He got us out one way the first at-bat and a different way in the other at-bats," Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe said. "He keeps you off-balance. I wouldn't say it was uncomfortable, but he got us out."

The right-hander retired the final 13 batters, did not allow a Twins runner to reach third base and only two touched second. He struck out seven and walked one.

The Royals sent 11 men to the plate in a six-run second inning, which was highlighted by Mike Moustakas and Hosmer stroking two-run singles. The inning included Lorenzo Cain walking with the bases loaded and Billy Butler's RBI single.

Hosmer hit his 12th home run, 11th since June 13, with Jarrod Dyson and Cain aboard in the sixth inning.

Moustakas, who had two hits in the second inning, had as many hits as the Twins, going 4 for 5 to match his career high for hits.

Six more than they put up on Carroll.