Boof Bonser and three relievers sent the Royals to a second straight shutout loss. The Royals haven’t scored in their last 26 innings — dating to the first inning of Thursday’s 6-1 loss to the Yankees.
“That’s the best I’ve seen (Bonser),” designated hitter Billy Butler said. “Still, that’s the second shutout we’ve had in a row, and that leaves a sour taste in your mouth. The pitching staff only gave up two runs.
“We should win those games.”
Instead, the Royals wasted a solid outing from Brett Tomko, who fell to 1-1 despite allowing just two runs in six-plus innings.
“I would take that any day of the week,” Tomko said. “It could have very easily gone a different way. It’s just how it is. I felt good. I felt my stuff was good, and I was commanding where I wanted to throw the ball.
“It just didn’t work out.”
The Royals, 6-5, need a win today to avoid getting swept by the Twins and salvage a split on a six-game home stand that began so promisingly with successive victories over the Yankees.
Bonser, 1-2, yielded just three singles in six shutout innings before handing a 2-0 lead to the bullpen. Matt Guerrier, Pat Neshek and Joe Nathan completed the shutout. Nathan recorded his fourth save.
“It was tough to feel my fingers (in the cold),” Bonser said. “Unbelievable. I don’t know how I got it done, but I did. Anytime I can go past the fifth, I’m happy with that.”
The Royals managed just five hits, all singles, and fell to 1-4 this season against the Twins. They have lost three in a row overall.
“We’re going to hit again,” manager Trey Hillman said. “We’re going to score some runs again. Hopefully, it’s sooner than later because I think one of the keys to a successful season is stopping losing streaks as quickly as possible.”
The powder blues and the promotional giveaway of a Butler powder blue jersey helped draw a sellout crowd of 36,300 despite the harsh cold.
They found little to cheer about.
The Royals haven’t worn powder blue uniforms since 1991 and, before Saturday, had never worn them at home. Plans call for them to wear the powder blue tops for every home Sunday, starting today, throughout the rest of the season.
The Twins used a Royals starter for target practice for the second straight game. Justin Morneau’s one-out liner in the fourth caught Tomko on the right shin.
“It’s pretty sore,” Tomko admitted. “When I was moving around and staying loose, it was all right. After I was done, it tightened up pretty good. It will be interesting waking up (this) morning.”
Gil Meche took a liner off the left hamstring in Friday’s 5-0 loss to the Twins. He remained in the game and worked three more innings.
“We’ve got a ball magnet on us right now on the mound,” Hillman said. “Hopefully, we can get that off of us.”
The Royals’ errorless streak also ended at 51 innings when shortstop Alberto Callaspo failed to handle Morneau’s short-hop grounder in the sixth.
Tomko retired the first five hitters without the ball leaving the infield before Jason Kubel tucked a full-count offering inside the right-field pole for his third homer of the year.
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