Morneau lifts Twins over Royals 3-1
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Justin Morneau drove in two runs and Minnesota rookie Cole De Vries beat the Kansas City Royals again 3-1 on Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader.
De Vries (4-5) has four career victories and three of them are against the Royals. He limited the Royals to one run on seven hits, walked none and struck out three over 6 2/3 innings. De Vries has won back-to-back starts, holding Texas and Kansas City to 10 hits and two earned runs in 11 2-3 innings.
Morneau, who has 77 career RBIs against the Royals, doubled home Josh Willingham in the first inning with the first Twins' run.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Morneau's sacrifice fly to center scored Pedro Florimon, who led off the fifth inning with a bunt single. Ryan Doumit's two-out single to right brought home Darin Mastroianni with the other run.
Royals rookie Will Smith (4-7) lost his third consecutive start, giving up three runs on nine hits and two walks, while striking out four in six-plus innings.
The Twins loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, but reliever Vin Mazzaro got out of the jam when Doumit grounded into a double play after Morneau was intentionally walked. Mazzaro had not pitched since Aug. 21 in the minors.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Royals chased De Vries in the seventh with three hits. Johnny Giavotella's two-out single scored Mike Moustakas.
Glen Perkins worked the ninth for his ninth save in 12 opportunities.
Royals right fielder Jeff Francoeur logged his major league-leading 16th assist in the fifth when he threw out Willingham trying to go from first to third.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Notes: Manager Ron Gardenhire said the Twins "might go" to a six-man rotation with the additions Saturday of RHPs P.J. Walters, who was reinstated from the disabled list, and Esmerling Vasquez, who was promoted from Triple-A Rochester and is scheduled to start Sunday against the Royals. Vasquez was strictly a reliever from 2009-11 with Arizona, but the Twins plan to look at him as a starter. Walters started before shoulder inflammation shut him down for 70 games. .There were 6.54 inches of rain to fall at Kauffman Stadium in a 29-hour period before the first pitch Saturday, which was delayed 21 minutes. .The Royals recalled OF David Lough, who hit .275 with Triple-A Omaha, and C Manny Pina, who hit .260 in 43 games with Triple-A Northwest Arkansas after having right knee surgery in spring training. .The Royals dropped to 7-22 against the Twins, Seattle and Toronto, the three last-place teams in their AL divisions.