MINNEAPOLIS _ Veteran Twins pitcher gets roughed up in Game 1. Young Twins pitcher saves the day in Game 2.
It sure looked familiar.
After Phil Hughes was tagged for three home runs during a 6-4 Game 1 loss, rookie left-hander Adalberto Mejia went seven solid innings as the Twins turned on the power in the second game to win 8-4. It was the Twins second doubleheader in four days and both ended up being split thanks to a developing pitcher stepping up in the nightcap.
While the Royals were able to beat the Twins for the first time season, the Twin won two of the three games in the series and moved to 7-1 against Kansas City this season.
Mejia was called up as the 26th roster player on Sunday to make the start, and immediately put the Twins in a hole before settling down. Salvador Perez crushed a Mejia pitch out to left for a two-run home run in the first inning to open the scoring.
But the Twins answered in the bottom of the inning with two-run home runs from Robbie Grossman and Max Kepler as the Twins jumped in front 4-2.
Brian Dozier added a RBI double in the second. Perez hit his second homer of the game and third of the day, in the fourth as Kansas City got within 5-3.
The Twins scored twice in the fourth, including a solo homer by Chris Gimenez to take a 7-3 lead. Kennys Vargas' RBI single in the seventh put them ahead 7-3.
Meanwhile, Mejia proved he could throw more strikes and work from ahead in the count. It wasn't as dominant as Jose Berrios' 11-strikeout effort on Friday, as Kansas City hit several pitches hard and Max Kepler made two fine catches in center in the sixth to keep runners off the bases.
In seven innings, Mejia gave up three earned runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
On Thursday, right-hander Ervin Santana faltered while Berrios shined. On Sunday, Hughes struggled for his third straight start, giving up five runs over four innings in a 6-4 loss. But Mejia helped the Twins avoid being swept while making a case to remain in the rotation.
It ends a week in which being amphibious would have made things easier on the local nine. Games against the Rockies and Royals were rained out, forcing doubleheaders on Thursday and Sunday. The Twins had to brush up on makeup games and calling up 26th men and ticket return policies. Most importantly, the Twins had to scramble to assemble a starting rotation to get through the postponements.
Their pitchers enjoyed the days off, but then manager Paul Molitor had to worry about bullpen abuse when the twin-bills took place. He ended up needing four relievers to get through Sunday.
