Series MVP Miguel Sano's 2017 All Star card, he's only an OB 8 in this league but still had a ton of pop against the weak Royals
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ZgPYivoJTWpJB0J6rcSKQvHV7xVSn3GdTAK0uxX77I/edit?usp=sharing
Game One: Twins 8, Royals 3
Miguel Sano had an absolutely monster start to the season out of the Twins' five hole, going 4-4 with three doubles. However, the Royals had a brief bit of hope, scoring 2 runs in the top of the first and feeling like they could maybe steal the opening game. Alas, those hopes were dashed when Byron "speedy leadoff man" Buxton's three run blast in the 2nd inning that really opened the floodgates. By the end of the third, the Twins had a cozy 8-2 lead and never looked back. Ervin Santana picked up the win with a strong 7 inning outing, surrendering five hits and four walks and picking up seven Ks. Poor Trevor Bauer, acquired in a trade with the Indians that bolstered the KC farm system, was lit up for 8 runs and 3 HRs. For some reason, the KC manager kept Bauer in after the early shelling and he came through, giving possible positive signs for the future after a scoreless 4-5-6-7 inning stretch.
Game Two: Twins 4, Royals 3 (10 innings)
The first extra inning game in this young Showdown season was an instant classic! Junis and Berrios had a pitchers duel through the first 5 and a half innings of the game, each surrendering only one run off a moonshot from a power hitting All Star third baseman (Mike Moustakas and Miguel Sano, respectively). The Twins thought they had a 2-1 victory when the took the lead in the bottom of the 8th off Sano's second HR of the game, and sent out Trevor Hildenberger to close up the game. However, Lucas Duda's clutch double knocked in Whit Merrifield to tie the game. Then in the top of the 10th, the Royals took the lead with a rare Alcedes Escobar triple, which could've been two runs if not for Alex Gordon getting thrown out at home during the previous at bat. The Royals still felt good, ready to win their first game and stay .500 going into the final frame... but up came the unlikely duo of Max Kepler and Jason Castro to play spoiler, both singling with the bases loaded to walk the Twins off to a 2-0 start!
Game Three: Twins 8, Royals 0
The Royals never had a prayer in this one. Lance Lynn, who's been a rough signing in real life, got a Tier 3 card on the strength of his 2017 campaign and absolutely dominated the low On-Base Royals lineup. Lynn went a complete game, giving up only seven baserunners while striking out 11. Jason Hammel's quality start was wasted by the lineup, and then absolutely tarnished by the KC bullpen. Justin Grimm surrendered three consecutive walks before a base clearing double, leading to a four-run 8th inning for the Twins. Sano hit his third HR of the series in this game, and added an RBI double as well.
AFTER THE SERIES:
Twins (3-0) -- Minnesota has to be feeling good about their staff's 1.63 ERA through the first three. The AL seems to have a clear top five teams (Houston, New York, Cleveland, Boston, and Los Angeles), but if the Twins can keep getting sweeps against bottom feeders like KC, they could win their way into a playoff berth. The early schedule (KC, Detroit, Chicago WS) lines up perfectly for a lot of momentum.
Royals (0-3) -- KC wasn't expected to contend this year, and an early sweep makes it especially unlikely that they will in this short, 30 game season. Now they travel back home and hope to steal one or two from the Twins in a rematch.
Next up: Rockies at Dodgers
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