Twins-Royals: Play resumes, Royals resume pummeling

After a 54-minute rain delay, play has resumed.

And Alex Gordon hit a 422-foot homer to right-center, increasing the Royals lead to 9-2 in the fifth.

The Twins-Royals game had been delayed by rain with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning and the Royals leading 7-2.

Kansas City scored all it's runs in the second inning,knocking out Twins starter Tommy Milone after 39 pitches.

The Twins scored their runs on a RBI single by Kennys Vargas in the first and solo home run by Joe Mauer in the third.

The game started 34 minutes late because of the threat of rain (it never came) but the last two innings have been played in steady rain. And, finally, Fieldin Culbreth has called for the tarp to be pulled on the field.

REGULAR PROGRAMMING

Lefthander Tommy Milone will start today against Kansas City. The lefthander held Houston to two runs over six innings on Tuesday in his first start for the Twins. He won't light up the radar gun but can paint his fastball and is crafty.

Trevor May will make his Target Field debut on Monday. He's in the, you-can't-fall-down-when-you're-already-on-the floor category after a horrendous major league debut against Oakland about a week ago. May has more stuff, and greater potential, than Milone, So it will be interesting to see how May responds in his second start.

I'm trying to get more details about what Byron Buxton is going through as he recovers from the concussion he suffered on Wednesday. I sent an e-mail to Twins GM Terry Ryan, who's out watching minor leaguers. I was curious about what symptoms Buxton is dealing with as he goes through the process. Here's what I got back.

La Velle:

He is stiff.

That's all I've got for now.

Joe Mauer's 16-game hitter streak ended last night, but the Twins have to be encouraged that his bat looks as sharp as it did before he was injured. Mauer still feels soreness in his right and expects to have to manage discomfort there for the rest of the season. Chatted with him some today, and he said he actually takes a few right-handed swings to help loosen his right side before he hits.

Kennys Vargas (12 RBI) and Danny Santana (21 hits) lead all rookies in baseball this month in those categories. Santana is tied with Boston's Brock Holt among rookies with 13 runs scored this month.

Eduardo Escobar is getting a start a third base today while Santana starts at short. There's nothing wrong with Trevor Plouffe, Gardy just wanted to get Escobar in the lineup.

Get here early - if you're coming to the game. It's the annual mascot softball game at 12:35.

Nori Aoki, RF
Omar Infante, 2B
Salvador Perez, C
Billy Butler, 1B
Alex Gordon, LF
Josh Willingham, DH
Mike Moustakas, 3B
Alcides Escobar, SS
Jarrod Dyson, CF

Jeremy Guthrie, RHP

Twins (55-66)

Danny Santana, SS
Brian Dozier, 2B
Joe Mauer, 1B
Kennys Vargas, DH
Oswaldo Arcia, RF
Kurt Suzuki, C
Chris Parmelee, LF
Eduardo Escobar, 3B
Jordan Schafer, CF