MINNEAPOLIS -- When your starting pitcher gives up three home runs, you need to take advantage of every offensive opportunity you create. The Kansas City Royals blew a big chance Saturday night.Brian Dozier hit his 25th home run of the season and the 100th of his career, leading Tyler Duffey and the Minnesota Twins over the Royals 5-3.Tied 1-1 in the fifth inning, the Royals got a leadoff walk to Alex Gordon and a single by Alcides Escobar. But No. 9 hitter Raul Mondesi popped up a sacrifice bunt attempt, and the Twins turned a double play on a hard-hit grounder by Paulo Orlando to get out of the inning.That was a big play because if we get the bunt down, Paulos ball -- probably, if they play the infield in -- goes through for two runs, Royals manager Ned Yost said. Hes an excellent bunter. It just shows you though theres nothing in this game that is a sure thing no matter how good you are at it.For the second time this season, the Twins homered three times off Royals starter Dillon Gee (4-6), who gave up five earned runs on 11 hits and one walk in 5 1/3 innings.The first five innings ... we were battling pretty good and the curveball was good, Gee said. We were able to battle our way through five, and in the sixth it just fell apart.Robbie Grossman homered in the fifth inning to put Minnesota ahead 2-1. In the sixth, Kurt Suzuki hit a one-out single and Eddie Rosario drove a belt-high fastball into the bullpen in left-center for his eighth home run of the season.Dozier then hit the same pitch deep into the second deck in left, ending Gees night.The ball just started elevating and I wasnt commanding it very well, Gee said. They put good swings on mistakes.Duffey (8-8) won for the third time in three starts this month. He allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings, striking out six. His outing was especially timely given the recent troubles of Minnesotas starting staff. In the previous three games, Twins starters lasted a combined 10 innings.The more that the short outings get compounded, the more that it taxes your team collectively, Molitor said. You need a little relief. Long starts are right up there with off days.Ryan Pressly pitched a scoreless eighth and Brandon Kintzler allowed an unearned run in the ninth but held on for his 11th save in 12 chances.Cheslor Cuthbert hit his 10th home run of the season in the third inning to tie the game 1-1. But Grossman hit a leadoff home run in the fifth to put the Twins on top for good.CUTHBERT CRUSHINGCuthbert took over third base for the injured Mike Moustakas in late May, and the rookie has been on a tear since the All-Star break. After going 1-for-4 on Saturday hes hitting .336 since July 15. He also had four straight multi-hit games earlier this week and hasnt gone hitless in consecutive games since June 15-16.UP NEXTLHP Hector Santiago will try to earn his first victory for the Twins on Sunday. Santiago (10-6), acquired from the Angels in a four-player trade on Aug. 1, has allowed eight earned runs in 10 1/3 innings in his first two starts for Minnesota, both losses. Hell face RHP Edinson Volquez (8-10), who is 0-2 with three no-decisions since July 9. Cowboys Jerseys 2021 . The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim. Wholesale Cowboys Jerseys . 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WASHINGTON -- Washington Nationals star Stephen Strasburg?says he isnt sure whether he will pitch again this season.Strasburg, 28, left Wednesdays start in the third inning. Tests determined he has a strained flexor mass in his right elbow and the injury is not related to his ligament, which needed Tommy John surgery five years ago.I cant make that claim, Strasburg said about a 2016 return. Theres still pretty much a month left in the season. Im just trying to get back healthy. Hopefully, were still playing baseball.Strasburg received his first platelet rich plasma injection Friday, a procedure in which his blood was drawn, platelets separated in a centrifuge and activated platelets injected back into the injured area to assist healing.I think the biggest thing is just seeing how it feels four, five days from now, Strasburg said, then start progressing with a little bit more treatment and strengthening up the forearm and getting into some sort of throwing program.Strasburg started the season 13-0 with a 2.51 ERA. He allowed 19 earned runs in 11? innings in three outings before going on the disabled list, then lasted just 2? innings in his return.Unfortunately this hass happened to me so many times that its just like, I can just sit here and let it eat at me, which Ive done in the past and it doesnt make it any better, so its the cards that Ive been dealt, he said.dddddddddddd Im just trying to stay positive and learn from it and work even harder.In Wednesdays start against Philadelphia, Strasburg felt a pinch in the back of his elbow that wouldnt go away.It was a little alarming to me, he said. Even when I went out there for the third, it felt more like the seventh or eighth inning, which was kind of odd. I just tried to get it out and then felt something on a pitch and it didnt really go away. It just kind of stayed there. Thats when I knew it probably wouldnt be a good idea to try to throw through it.Still, there was relief when tests determined his ulnar collateral ligament was not damaged.It was about as good of news as you can get, he said. So, Im just trying to take it one day at a time now and do everything I can to get out there, not only as fast as possible but feeling right at the same time. ' ' '
