Major League Baseball
Lohse extends zeros streak

By Dave Campbell
The Associated Press

ANDY KING / AP Minnesota starter Kyle Lohse, right, is congratulated by Johan Santana, center, and Brad Radke after the Twins' victory last night.

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MINNEAPOLIS — Kyle Lohse wasn't about to let his fellow Minnesota Twins starters down.

Lohse threw Minnesota's team-record third consecutive complete-game shutout in a 12-0 victory over crumbling Kansas City last night.

"You don't want those kind of thoughts to cross your mind, but you obviously don't want to be the guy to give it up," said Lohse, whose six-hitter came after Brad Radke tossed a four-hitter and Johan Santana turned in a three-hitter to start the series.

This was the first time in the Twins' 44-year history they've shut out an opponent in three consecutive games, and the streak of 27 scoreless innings is a franchise high.

The Baltimore Orioles were the last major-league club with three consecutive complete-game shutouts, when Mike Mussina, Scott Erickson and Kevin Brown did it in September 1995.

"Everybody's going to look like Cy Young right now, the way we're swinging," said Dee Brown, who had three hits for the Royals. They've lost eight in a row and 13 out of 14, scoring one run in their past 37 innings.

"Mentally, this ballclub is beat," manager Tony Pena said. "It's a tough time, but these kids are trying."

Rookie Joe Mauer had his first career four-hit game, and Minnesota's first five batters — Cristian Guzman, Lew Ford, Mauer, Corey Koskie and Torii Hunter — went 14 for 21 and scored all 12 runs. Hunter and Matthew LeCroy each had three runs batted in.

"It was a very enjoyable ballgame from my office," said a smiling manager Ron Gardenhire, who was ejected in the second inning.

	ANDY KING / AP Dennys Reyes, right, allowed six runs — four earned — in one-plus innings.

Lohse (3-6) won for just the second time in his past 15 starts, getting more run support than he had in all of June. In five starts last month, the Twins scored a total of five runs while he was in the game.

This was his fourth career complete game and third shutout. He struck out seven and walked none.

"I've been working hard all year, and things haven't been working out," Lohse said. "Hopefully it gets me going."

Hard work? Minnesota's bullpen can't relate to that. Nobody has pitched since Sunday afternoon.

"We're not showing up tomorrow," joked J.C. Romero. "We're just going to tell Gardy to call us on our cellphones."

Royals starter Dennys Reyes (2-4) got only three outs and was replaced by Justin Huisman after hitting Koskie with a pitch in the second. Reyes gave up six hits, six runs — four earned — and one walk.

The Royals had plenty of chances to end their scoreless streak — putting two runners on in four of the first seven innings.

Brown and Tony Graffanino hit consecutive one-out singles in the seventh. But Lohse struck out rookie John Buck and Damian Jackson to end it.

"This is crazy," Brown said. "It has to get better."

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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