Brett Tomko pitched five shutout innings, Alex Gordon hit a two-run single that put Kansas City ahead in the second inning, and the Royals defeated the Minnesota Twins 3-1. Kansas City finished its opening trip to Detroit and Minnesota 4-2, its best start since 2004. Making his first start this season, Tomko allowed six hits, struck out three and walked one.
He began last year with six scoreless innings of one-hit ball for Los Angeles against Colorado, but finished a combined 4-12 for the Dodgers and San Diego Padres. Joakim Soria struck out the side in order in the ninth for his third save, capping four innings of two-hit relief by four pitchers. Minnesota's only run came on Justin Morneau’s sixth-inning home run. (More MLB stories.)