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Mike Moustakas Homers As Royals Begin Final Series With 7-3 Victory Over The Minnesota Twins

Felipe Paulino struck out nine in his final start of the 2011 season as Kansas City picked up a win over the Minnesota Twins. Mike Moustakas hit his fifth home run, while Billy Butler stole his second base of the year.

By Matthew Hays
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 26: Mike Moustakas #8 of the Kansas City Royals hits a solo home run against the Minnesota Twins in the sixth inning on September 26, 2011 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 26: Mike Moustakas #8 of the Kansas City Royals hits a solo home run against the Minnesota Twins in the sixth inning on September 26, 2011 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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It's often easy to look focus down the stretch when your team isn't in contention and many players are ready to get on with the offseason. That certainly hasn't been the case for the Royals as they picked up another win with a 7-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

Kansas City had to come back from a 3-1 deficit after five innings to earn the win. What proved to be the difference was a four-run sixth inning for the Royals, highlighted by a Mike Moustakas home run. After Billy Butler doubled to drive in Mitch Maier, Kansas City had tied the game at three on Salvador Perez' sacrifice fly. That set the stage for Moustakas' fifth home run of the season to put the Royals in front. All four runs in the earning were charged to Minnesota starter Kevin Slowey, who fell to 0-8 on the season.

Felipe Paulino got his last start of the season for Kansas City, pitching six inning and allowing three runs on six hits. He struck out nine while walking just two. Paulino finishes the season with a 4-6 mark.

The Royals bullpen of Tim Collins, Kelvin Herrera, and Aaron Crow each pitched a scoreless inning of relief as the Royals now have just two games left on the season.

Melky Cabrera had two hits, giving him 200 on the season before he exited for Maier in the sixth. He will sit the final two games. Butler, Perez, Moustakas, Lorenzo Cain, and Alcides Escobar each had tow hits as the Royals tallied 14 hits as a team

Kansas City is 71-89, while Minnesota falls to 61-99. Ironically Kansas City has a chance to finish closer to second place in the division than fifth place. The team sit nine games out of second, and ten games ahead of the Twins.