Clunker of a loss in Kansas City

Ron Gardenhire argues with home plate umpire

Orlin Wagner, Associated Press

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire argued with home plate umpire Larry Vanover during the sixth inning Monday.

The Twins failed to ride the momentum of series victories over Milwaukee and St. Louis in a sloppy effort that made Royals pitcher Luke Hochevar look like the No. 1 pick he hasn't resembled very often.

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: June 30, 2009 - 5:03 AM

Print this story

KANSAS CITY 4, TWINS 2

Up next: 7:10 p.m. tonight at Kansas City • Kauffman Stadium • TV: FSN (1500-AM)

More from Twins

KANSAS CITY, MO. - The Twins have used interleague play as a takeoff point. They beat up on National League teams, then accelerate through the summer.

Their momentum, however, came to crashing halt Monday. Some of it was because of Royals righthander Luke Hochevar. Some of it was self-inflicted thanks to misplays in the field. Some of it was because the Royals geared up to battle their AL Central foe.

All of it turned into a 4-2 loss to Kansas City in one of the flatter performances of the year.

"We just played a sloppy baseball game,'' Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We threw the ball around and missed some plays. We have been playing pretty good and just had a clunker tonight.'

Michael Cuddyer and Brendan Harris committed errors. Denard Span caught a couple of fly balls, then dithered before throwing them back in. The Twins left five runners on base over the first three innings, then watched Hochevar get in a groove and pitch seven shutout innings.

The Twins had won series against the NL Central's top two teams in Milwaukee and St. Louis and arrived in Kansas City looking like a team ready to surge. Instead, they blew three things:

• A chance to move to 15-11 in June and clinch a winning month.

• A chance to lock up a winning road trip, which stands at 4-3 with two games to go.

• And a chance to move two games over .500 for the first time this season. Instead, it turned out to be the seventh time the Twins have failed to get two games over .500.

And this was to a Royals team that batted infielder Alberto Callaspo sixth (he actually homered) and missed regulars Alex Gordon, Mike Aviles, Coco Crisp, John Buck and Jose Guillen because of injuries.

Hochevar (3-3), the first overall pick in the 2006 draft, covered up for a lot of Kansas City's shortcomings on Monday.

The Twins couldn't center Hochevar's moving fastball and chased his breaking ball. They were hitless through three innings but already had stranded five runners on base thanks to four walks and an error. Cuddyer's leadoff double in the fourth was the Twins' first hit.

"He threw the ball well against us,'' Gardenhire said of Hochevar. "He made pitches when he had to. Sure, we helped him a little bit, but that's because he's got such nasty stuff. The ball looks like it's there, and it's diving all over the place. He was starting hitters with a big, slow curveball as he went along. He got a better feel for everything as the game went along. That made it more difficult.''

The Royals grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second on a RBI double by Mitch Maier. Twins righthander Nick Blackburn (6-4) battled to keep the game close but gave up back-to back homers to Callaspo and Miguel Olivo in the sixth.

"The two home runs were bad pitches,'' Blackburn said. "Just missed spots.''

The Twins' runs came on a two-run homer by Justin Morneau in the eighth off reliever John Bale.

Hochevar held the Twins to two hits and four walks with two strikeouts over seven innings.

"I think we got shut down by a young man who threw the ball very well,'' Gardenhire said.

Recent Twins stories

Brewers announce details of ticket lottery - June 30, 2009

Brewers announce details of ticket lottery - The Brewers are holding a lottery that will allow fans a chance to buy tickets to opening day at Miller Park and other marquee games before individual tickets are available. More