Ervin Santana pitched eight innings, allowed eight hits and struck out seven. Alcides Escobar back up the effort when he doubled home the go-ahead run and Kansas City beat the Minnesota Twins 3-1 on Monday in its home opener. Santana allowed only four hits after the first inning, when the Twins scored their lone run. Aaron Crow recorded his first save of the season for the Royals instead of Greg Holland.
“The decision was easy,” Yost said. “(Greg) Holland and (Kelvin) Herrera were unavailable. It’s too early in the season for them to be pitching three days in a row. Aaron’s an All-Star. I don’t like to say it, but he’s one of the big four we’ve got out there, with Holland and Herrera and (Tim) Collins. I’ve got confidence in any one of those four closing the game.”
Joe Mauer and Chris Parmalee had two hits each for the Twins. Kevin Correia pitched the eighth inning allowing three earned runs for Minnesota.
