Royals take 2 of 3 in series with 5-4 victory to keep Twins from gaining ground in AL Central

Royals keep Twins from moving up in AL Central

MINNEAPOLIS — The table was set for the Minnesota Twins to get right back into the race in the AL Central.

The division-leading Detroit Tigers were in Boston for a tough four-game series, and the Twins had bottom-feeding Kansas City under the big white roof that always seems to shelter them from their problems on the road.

Instead, Minnesota’s season of inconsistency and mediocrity continued against the lowly Royals, and a golden opportunity swirled right down the drain.

Gil Meche was victorious in his return from the disabled list and the Royals dealt the Twins a major setback in the division with a 5-4, series-clinching victory Thursday.

Meche (5-9) gave up four runs on seven hits in five innings of his first start since July 11, and the Royals took two of three at the Metrodome for the second time this season.

The Tigers lost three of four to the Red Sox, but none of that mattered thanks to the Royals. The third-place Twins started the week five games back and will open a series against Cleveland on Friday night in the same position.

“When they’re losing we need to win,” Justin Morneau said. “It’s a little frustrating when you go through that, when we have the chances and we don’t get it done.”

Joe Mauer had a double, a homer and four RBIs and Orlando Cabrera extended his career-high hitting streak to 22 games. But Minnesota left nine runners on base in the game and went 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position.

Willie Bloomquist had two RBIs and Alex Gordon hit his third homer of the season against Carl Pavano (10-9). The Royals had not beaten an AL team in a series of at least three games since they took two of three in the Metrodome on May 1-3.

“It has been a long time even in calendar days,” manager Trey Hillman said. “But because of the lack of success of the team, it seems even longer.”

Meche strained his lower back in an outing against the Red Sox and needed two rehab appearances in the minors before he was activated on Thursday.

He ran into trouble in the fifth, giving up the three-run homer to Mauer that cut Kansas City’s lead to 5-4. But the Royals bullpen pitched four shutout innings, including two from closer Joakim Soria, who picked up his 19th save.

“Come in to Minnesota and taking a series, obviously you’re doing something right,” Bloomquist said. “So we’ll take it, build on it and move forward.”

At Seattle, Hideki Matsui had his fourth career two-homer game and a season-high five RBIs and CC Sabathia struck out a season-best 10 as New York began its longest trip of the year with a victory.

Sabathia (13-7) allowed three hits, including a solo home run to Josh Wilson, in eight innings for his fifth win in six decisions.

Derek Jeter homered and Jerry Hairston Jr., filling in for Rodriguez at third base, had a double, single and two RBIs.

The Yankees won for the 10th time in 11 games to increase their lead in the AL East over the Red Sox to a season high-tying 6½ games.

Ian Snell (0-1), making his third start since Seattle acquired him from Pittsburgh on July 29, allowed nine hits and eight runs in six-plus innings.

At Boston, Justin Verlander allowed four hits in eight innings and Ryan Raburn homered as Detroit avoided a four-game sweep.

Verlander (13-6) struck out eight and walked one, retiring 16 of the last 19 batters he faced. Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth for his 24th save.

Clay Buchholz (1-3) allowed five hits over seven innings, walking three and striking out three while giving up Raburn’s homer to go with an unearned run in the fourth. Victor Martinez had two hits for Boston, and he also stole a base for the second time in his career and the first time since 2003.

At Cleveland, Scott Feldman pitched six sharp innings and Josh Hamilton had four hits, including a go-ahead two-run double for the Rangers.

Feldman (12-4) worked out of trouble several times after allowing a first-inning run in winning his third straight start. The right-hander allowed seven hits and struck out six to improve to 8-1 with a 3.33 ERA in 10 road starts this season.

Hamilton’s double off Jeremy Sowers (4-8) gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead. He also had an infield hit in the first, a double in the sixth and another single leading off the eighth.

Frank Francisco pitched the ninth for his 15th save and his first since July 10.