Jeremy Guthrie made his KC Royals debut on Sunday afternoon, but brought his same struggles with him. The Minnesota Twins won, 7-5.

Ryan Doumit gave the Twins a 1-0 lead with a solo homerun leading off the 2nd inning.

Doumit struck again with a two-run single with two outs in the 3rd inning. Brian Dozier followed with a two-run double.

Guthrie allowed five runs on four hits and three walks over five innings.

Doumit would hit another homerun to lead off the 6th inning off lefty Tim Collins. The switch-hitting Doumit hit a homerun from both sides of the plate (he went 3-for-4).

That offense helped Twins starter Sam Deduno pick up his first big league victory.

The Royals got back into the game late, as Billy Butler and Yuniesky Betancourt both homered. Butler’s came in the 8th inning (a two-run shot). Yuni’s came as a pinch-hitter in the 9th inning with two outs.

The KC Royals distanced themselves further from last place Minnesota, as they defeated the Twins in the first game of their three-game series, 4-3.

Luis Mendoza

Luis Mendoza was absolutely brilliant. He allowed five hits over eight innings of work. The lone run he allowed came in the 2nd inning on a Ryan Doumit RBI single (he just signed a two-year extension earlier in the day). Surprisingly, Mendoza did not walk a batter while striking out five.

Mendoza retired the final 13 batters he faced. He did throw 115 pitches.

Closer Jonathan Broxton almost blew the save, but somehow escaped. Leading 4-1 heading into the bottom of the 9th inning, he walked Denard Span on five pitches. Ben Revere followed with a single and Joe Mauer drove in a run with a double. Josh Willingham drove in a run with a ground out to cut the Twins deficit to 4-3. After a Justin Morneau fly out moved Mauer to third base, Broxton FINALLY got out of the inning by inducing a pop out from Trevor Plouffe on the first pitch.

The Royals collected 11 hits, but went just 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Alex Gordon, Yuniesky Betancourt, Salvador Perez, and Alcides Escobar each had two hits. Perez hit his second homerun of the season, a solo shot in the 2nd inning. Billy Butler went 1-for-2 with three walks.

*Earlier in the day, the Royals announced that legendary head groundskeeper George Toma will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. For more on the honor, click HERE.

**With the day/night doubleheader on Saturday, lefty reliever Tommy Hottovy will be called up as the 26th man.