Royals Win Series Opener Over Twins
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jason Vargas threw six shutout innings and Kendrys Morales hit a long home run against his former team to push the Kansas City Royals to a 3-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night.
Vargas (5-2) gave up five hits and struck out two, Morales hit a two-run shot in the second inning and Eric Hosmer drove in another run in the eighth to move the AL champion Royals (32-23) ahead of the Twins (33-24) by percentage points for first place in the AL Central. Greg Holland got his 10th save in 11 chances.
Phil Hughes (4-6) had one of his strongest outings of the season for the Twins, but didn't get enough from his offense. Hughes gave up three runs on seven hits and struck out three.
Eddie Rosario had two hits, including a solo homer for Minnesota.
Twins pick LHP Tyler Jay in first-year player draft
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have selected left-handed pitcher Tyler Jay from the University of Illinois in the first round of the 2015 first-year player draft.
Minnesota chose Jay with the sixth overall selection.
The 21-year-old junior becomes the second-highest drafted player in University of Illinois history, and the highest since shortstop Jim Vopicka was taken fifth overall in the 1966 draft by the Angels.
The native of Lemont, Illinois, posted a record of 5-2 with a 1.08 ERA, 76 strikeouts and seven walks in 30 appearances (two starts) for the Illini this season.
In 2015, the 6-foot-1 left-hander was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and Louisville Slugger First-Team All-American. The Illini closer holds the school record for saves in a single season (14, 2015) and in a career (24).
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