Happy birthday America! Your heartland hometown Royals (45-33) valiantly battled the Minnesota Twins (43-38) in Kansas City on the 4th of July, but came up short in a 5-3 loss.
Royals starting pitcher Joe Blanton (2-2 / 3.74) wobbled badly right out of the gate, giving up three runs in the first inning, including a two-run shot by Joe Mauer. He settled down for a few innings before giving up another run in the fifth. All told, Joe gave up four runs on nine hits — four for extra bases — and no walks in five innings.