Mike Pelfrey and the Twins picked up a win Wednesday. (Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mike Pelfrey gave the Minnesota Twins a rare quality start and Brian Dozier stroked two hits, drove in a run and scored a run in a 3-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night to avoid a sweep in the three-game series at Kauffman Stadium.
The right-handed Pelfrey (1-0) gave up five hits, walked two and hit two before turning the lead over to the bullpen.
Right-hander Casey Fien worked around an Eric Hosmer two-out triple in the eighth before lefty Glen Perkins completed the shutout and collected his third save in as many opportunities.
It was the Twins’ second shutout of the season after blanking the Chicago White Sox on April 10.
Pelfrey earned his first victory since Sept. 23, 2013, after missing most of last season due to elbow surgery.
The Twins sent eight men to the plate in a three-run first with second baseman Brian Dozier and designated hitter Kenny Vargas delivering run-producing singles. The other run scored when left fielder Oswaldo Arcia was hit by right-handed starter Jeremy Guthrie’s pitch. Guthrie labored through 32 pitches in the first inning alone.
After retiring the first two Twins in the second, Guthrie struggled again, giving up a double to right fielder Torii Hunter and walking first baseman Joe Mauer and Dozier to load the bases. In a bizarre ending to the inning with Guthrie battling control issues, Hunter unsuccessfully attempted to steal home on the second pitch to Vargas.
Guthrie, who threw 49 strikes and 49 balls in five innings, walked six, matching his career high, and hit a batter. He was replaced in the sixth by right-hander Yohan Pino, who made 11 starts for the Twins last season.
The Royals loaded the bases in the fifth when second baseman Christian Colon and shortstop Alcides Escobar singled and center fielder Lorenzo Cain was hit by a Pelfrey pitch. Hosmer grounded out to Mauer on a 3-1 pitch to end the inning.
NOTES: Jack Sock, a tennis pro from Kansas City who went to Blue Valley North, watched the Royals take batting practice Wednesday. Sock, 22, won his first ATP Tourney over the weekend, the Men’s Clay Court Championship at Houston. … RHP Wade Davis, who is handling the Royals’ closing duties with RHP Greg Holland on the disabled list, has allowed one hit in seven innings and has three saves in as many chances. … RHP Yordano Ventura starts Thursday at Chicago, while the White Sox will start All-Star LHP Chris Sale. … The Twins are off before opening a weekend series at Seattle. … Mike Swanson, the Royals vice-president communications and broadcasting, is going on the DL with elbow surgery scheduled Thursday.
