Royals lose 6-2 to Twins as Ned Yost shuffles batting order at top

The Royals’ lineup card brought a new look at the top for the first time this season, but the losing refrain continued.

The Twins opened a three-game series with a 6-2 victory before 36,825 at Kauffman Stadium on Monday, sending the Royals to a fourth straight defeat, matching a season high.

The American League Central lead over the second-place Twins fell to 11 games and the Royals didn’t cash an opportunity to reduce their magic number mostly because they couldn’t solve starter Tommy Milone.

At one point, Milone, a finesse left-hander, had retired 14 of 15 Royals, who scored single runs in the first and seventh innings. Milone is the latest in a line of starters who have quieted Royals bats, no matter the order.

Monday, for the first time since Sept. 12, 2014, shortstop Alcides Escobar did not bat leadoff for the Royals, and essentially manager Ned Yost trifled with a good thing.

The Royals fared well with Escobar at the top, powering into and through last season’s playoffs and holding the American League’s best record this year.

But with the move of Escobar to the bottom of the batting order and Ben Zobrist to the top, Yost played the percentages.

Specifically, on-base percentages.

Escboar carried a .320 on-base percentage into Monday’s game against the Twins. In the 18 games since he was acquired by the Oakland A’s, Zobrist has reached base at a .440 rate, and for the season stands at .417.

“We’ve been thinking about doing this ever since we got Zobrist,” Yost said. “Esky had really filled a great role for us starting about this time last year. But there’s a big difference between a (.320) on-base and .420.”

The switch won’t stop with Zobrist at the top. Yost said it’s likely Alex Gordon will bat second. He led off for about week earlier in the season but has hit sixth most of the year.

Gordon’s .383 on-base percentage ranks among the team leaders.

“You’ll have two on-base guys getting on for our run producers,” Yost said. “Esky, I see him more as run producer. We’re looking for ways to maximize our scoring potential.”

The searching continues after Monday’s effort. Zobrist went hitless in four plate appearances, and Escobar scratched out a single in one of his three appearances.

The Twins pulled away from a 1-1 game with three in the sixth off starter Yordano Ventura, 10-8, whose streak of consecutive victories ended at six. Ventura maintained his strikeout punch with eight, but walked five and uncorked a wild pitch that allowed a run.

“He felt good, he felt he had a good fastball, he felt he had a good breaking ball,” said Royals coach Pedro Grifol, translating for Ventura. “But he wasn’t getting ahead of hitters. This is the big leagues. If you don’t get ahead of hitters you’re going to struggle.”

The big Twins action came after Aaron Hicks whacked Ventura’s third pitch of the evening, a high change up, into the right field bullpen, and the Royals’ response in the first.

Lorenzo Cain dropped a one-out single to center and moved to third on Eric Hosmer’s bouncer through the right side.

This story was originally published September 7, 2015 at 10:17 PM with the headline "Royals lose 6-2 to Twins as Ned Yost shuffles batting order at top."