Royals use rare long ball to defeat the Twins
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals used home runs by Kyle Isbel and Isaac Collins, two hitters not known for their power, to defeat the Minnesota Twins 3-1 on an unseasonably warm day in front of a sellout crowd of 39,320 in Kansas City’s home opener. The temperature at first pitch was 85 degrees.
In the first game at Kauffman Stadium since the Royals moved in the fences 8 to 10 feet, all four runs scored on home runs. However, all three home runs also would have been out with the old dimensions. Kris Bubic (1-0) picked up the win for Kansas City.
He allowed one run on two hits in six innings. John Schreiber pitched the ninth for his first save. Simeon Woods Richardson (0-1) took the loss for the Twins.
REDS 2, PIRATES 0 CINCINNATI (AP) — Chase Burns allowed one hit in five innings for his first major league win, leading Cincinnati to a victory over Pittsburgh. Burns (1-0) walked three and struck out seven, including Jared Triolo with two on and two outs in the fourth. Jose Franco retired five batters before leaving with two on.
Graham Ashcraft struck out Henry Davis to end the seventh and fanned two more in a scoreless eighth. Conner Phillips walked Marcell Ozuna and Ryan O’Hearn before retiring three straight for his first career save. Elly De La Cruz singled leading off the fourth against Braxton Ashcraft (0-1) for the Reds but was thrown out trying to steal second.
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