Forget that Johan Santana character, the Minnesota Twins have … Kevin Slowey?
The relatively unknown Slowey limited Kansas City to seven hits in six innings, Joe Mauer drove in two runs and the Twins took advantage of eight walks to beat the Royals 4-1 on Friday night and keep pace with the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.
Slowey (8-8) did not walk a batter and struck out two in 5 2-3 innings. It was the 16th time in 29 career starts that he has not issued a walk, and he has not allowed a first-inning run in 18 starts, the longest streak since Mike Sirotka in his first 21 starts with the 1999 White Sox.
“I don’t think I have the stuff to get away with walking a lot of guys,” Slowey said. “In the minor leagues, that’s what the Twins preach. They say we have some great defenders behind you, make them work, we’re going to make some great plays behind you, make guys earn their way on base. That’s what I tried to do.”
Joe Nathan worked the ninth for his 31st save in 33 opportunities, but not before the Royals loaded the bases on two hits and a hit batsman. David DeJesus, who leads the majors with a .437 average with runners in scoring position, grounded out to end the game.
“We couldn’t get the big hit,” Royals manager Trey Hillman said.
Kyle Davies (5-3) lasted just 2 1-3 innings for Kansas City, allowing three runs on five walks and three singles.
“They stayed around long enough to make it real entertaining at the end,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Slowey pitched good enough and battled and the bullpen did a super job.”
The Twins remain a half-game ahead of the White Sox, who got a stellar start from Mark Buehrle in 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox.
In other AL games, it was Oakland 4, Detroit 2; the Los Angeles Angels 10, the New York Yankees 5; Tampa Bay 5, Seattle 3; Cleveland 5, Toronto 2; and Baltimore 9, Texas 1.
The White Sox handed Jon Lester his first loss in 2 1/2 months, getting a bit of payback for when the Red Sox embarrassed Chicago in a four-game sweep at U.S. Cellular Field last August.
The AL Central leaders saw the Buehrle of old and hung on after Dustin Pedroia hit a three-run homer off Octavio Dotel in the eighth. Carlos Quentin led off the bottom half with his AL-leading 31st homer off Manny Delcarmen and his second in as many games, while Bobby Jenks pitched a scoreless ninth for his 23rd save in 26 chances.
Lester (10-4) suffered his first loss since May 25 after going 7-0 in his previous 11 starts. He allowed four runs and six hits in seven innings.
“I threw the ball a lot better than the linescore said,” Lester said. “I just really got outpitched. There’s nothing really more to say.”
The Red Sox had won five of six but couldn’t get anything going against Buehrle (9-10), who allowed just four hits and tied a season high with eight strikeouts while walking two after losing his previous two starts.
He left to a standing ovation with the White Sox leading 4-0 after Jason Varitek led off the eighth with a single.
“He was attacking the zone with like nine pitches, it seemed like,” Pedroia said. “He was tough, man.”
Athletics 4, Tigers 2
At Detroit, rookie reliever Brad Ziegler tied the A’s record for consecutive scoreless innings and Oakland snapped a 10-game losing streak.
Dallas Braden (3-2) gave up two runs and five hits over seven innings. It was his longest outing of the season, and tied his career long.
Kenny Rogers (8-9) allowed four runs – three earned – for his third straight loss.
Angels 10, Yankees 5
At Anaheim, Calif., Torii Hunter had four hits with a home run and four RBIs, and Howie Kendrick tied a career high with four hits for Los Angeles.
Jered Weaver (10-9) allowed five runs and seven hits in six innings, including solo homers by Xavier Nady and Alex Rodriguez, who played in his 2,000th regular-season game.
Ian Kennedy (0-4) picked up the loss after being recalled from Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre to replace Joba Chamberlain in the rotation.
Rays 5, Mariners 3
At Seattle, Carlos Pena hit his 21st home run and drove in another run, and the Rays added to their lead in the AL East behind a strong performance from James Shields (10-7).
Tampa Bay’s 3 1/2-game lead over second-place Boston is its largest since July 7.
Carlos Silva (4-13) allowed eight hits and five runs – four earned – in six-plus innings.
Indians 5, Blue Jays 2
At Toronto, Anthony Reyes allowed one run and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings to pick up his first win since being traded to Cleveland last month.
Toronto left-hander David Purcey (1-3) took the loss, giving up three runs and six hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out a career-high eight.
Orioles 9, Rangers 1
At Baltimore, Jeremy Guthrie (9-8) allowed one run in seven innings to win his third straight start and Kevin Millar homered twice for Baltimore.
Luis Mendoza (3-5) gave up five runs and six hits in three innings for Texas.
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