MINNEAPOLIS -- Erik Kratz had played in only five games for Kansas City since being acquired from Toronto in a trade on July 28. But the big guy always stayed ready and that discipline paid off Monday night to keep the Royals rolling. Kratz homered twice after replacing an ailing Salvador Perez, and Jason Vargas pitched seven strong innings to lead the first-place Royals to a 6-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins. "You put your work in before the game as a bench guy to be ready to go in," Kratz said. "Some people could say well, Salvi plays every day, so why not take a day off? In my opinion, whats the point of taking a day off if that might be the day you come in and play?" Vargas (10-5) allowed one run on four this and struck out three, but had his scoreless innings streak snapped at 17 when Oswaldo Arcia hit a solo homer in the seventh. Perez had two hits and two RBIs before leaving in the seventh because of discomfort in his right knee, helping the Royals win for the 21st time in 26 games. Kansas City extended its lead over the idle Detroit Tigers in the AL Central to two games. Trevor May (0-2) gave up three runs on seven hits and walked four in 4 2-3 innings for the Twins. When Perez left, Kratz came in as a pinch hitter and broke his bat on a pitch from Anthony Swarzak, but still managed to muscle it over the wall in left field for a 4-0 lead. Kratz added a solo shot to centre in the ninth for his first multihomer game. The drives proved even more important when Trevor Plouffe hit a three-run homer off Aaron Crow in the ninth inning. "Its great to help the team out when you do get in there for any bench guy," Kratz said. Greg Holland came on for his 38th save in 40 tries. Josh Willingham had three hits and Alex Gordon and Billy Butler each had two for the Royals, who have won eight straight series for the first time since 1991. May made his major league debut on Aug. 9, and it was a rough one. He walked seven batters in two innings and gave up four runs. He breezed through four innings of his home debut, but walked the bases loaded in the fifth. Perez followed with a two-run single and Butler added an RBI single to give the Royals a 3-0 lead. That was enough for Vargas, who has dominated the Twins this season. He retired 10 in a row from the second through sixth while his offence built him a cushion. "Salvis a huge part of our team, but we have to keep him healthy and keep him in it for the long haul," Vargas said. "For Kratz to come in and step up and go big fly twice was pretty nice, especially when they were able to extend the game a little bit there. Those two home runs really counted." TRAINERS ROOM Royals: Perez is day to day with a sore knee. Manager Ned Yost said Perez tweaked a tendon in his knee while running the bases in the fifth inning, but was removed purely as a precaution. Twins: Byron Buxton, one of the top prospects in baseball, flew to Fort Myers, Florida, to begin his recovery after a nasty outfield collision at Double-A New Britain. GM Terry Ryan said Buxton had a stiff neck and some headaches, but nothing more serious. Ryan said he doubts Buxton will play again this season. "Were all fortunate it ended up the way it ended up," Ryan said. "Weve seen collisions in our day, but that one ranked right up there." UP NEXT The Royals open a two-game interleague series in Colorado. RHP James Shields (11-6, 3.29 ERA) starts the opener against LHP Tyler Matzek (2-8, 5.50). The Twins stay home for a three-game series against Cleveland. RHP Kyle Gibson (11-9, 3.96) starts the opener against RHP Trevor Bauer (4-7, 4.35). EARLY EXIT Twins manager Ron Gardenhire didnt stick around very long. When plate umpire Chris Segal called Joe Mauer out on strikes in the first inning, the mild-mannered first baseman argued that he fouled the third strike and it hit the dirt before Perez caught it. Segal disagreed, and Gardenhire came to Mauers defence before returning to the bench. Moments later, Segal ejected Gardenhire after the conversation apparently continued from the dugout. It was the fifth time this season and 72nd time in his career that Gardenhire was ejected. Nike Free Cheap Online . The International Ice Hockey Federation says Pavlovs avoided a two-year sanction because he acted "without significant negligence in failing to verify the safety of the supplements he was taking. Nike Free Trainers Uk . On Thursday, a judge said Varlamov could be released if he posted $5,000 bond and be allowed to travel with the team but he was ordered to stay away from his girlfriend, among other restrictions. http://www.nikefreesaleuk.com/ . Watch the game live on TSN and TSN GO at 9pm et/6pm pt. Serge Ibaka returned to the Thunder lineup from a calf injury that was supposed to sideline him for the remainder of the postseason and the results were sparkling. Nike Free Clearance . He even addressed his group of relievers Sunday morning. Dustin McGowan made those worries a nonfactor, at least for a day. McGowan pitched three-hit ball for seven innings, Colby Rasmus hit a grand slam and Melky Cabrera added a two-run homer as the Blue Jays beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-2. Nike Free Online Sale .Y. -- In a span of three days, Shabazz Napier and Connecticut knocked out both Philadelphia schools in the NCAA tournament.Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca. In the Rangers-Canadiens game on Thursday, after Chris Kreider and P.K. Subban left the penalty box, Kreider clearly dropped his gloves first and Subban never did want to engage. How did the refs make such a decision to give them coincidental minors? Dropping the gloves should have been the first penalty before any contact between the players. Correct? Any thoughts on the cross check/embellishment penalties before?. I do not understand this disturbing trend. If you decide the first infraction was a cross-check, then there cannot be embellishment. It should be one or the other. Stephen Silver Vancouver B.C --- During the first period of the Canadiens-Rangers game on Thursday evening, Chris Kreider received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and P.K. Subban was given an embellishment penalty on the same play. Upon returning to the ice, Kreider immediately went after Subban, threw his gloves and tried to get him to fight. Subban did not oblige, and attempted to skate away without even acknowledging Kreider, yet they were both given matching unsportsmanlike conduct minors. What is the justification in penalizing Subban, when he apparently did absolutely nothing to warrant a penalty? Joey Savoy Stephen and Joey: There are a couple things at play with regard to the assessment of penalties in the two incidents involving P.K. Subban and Chris Kreider. Embellishment can result in a penalty after an initial infraction has been signaled based on any attempt by the player fouled to sell the call. The referees were instructed at the beginning of the season to remain vigilant on diving and embellishment so the trend will continue. First, let me (once again) address the depth of the embellishment hole that Subban has dug for himself with the vast majority of NHL referees. The unnatural falls that Subban can demonstrate to various levels of contact from opponents has the Montreal superstar skating on very thin ice with the refs. The phrase, perception is reality can be applied in this case. The reality is that Subbans behavior is clearly on the refs radar screen. As great a player and leader as P.K. is, he had better recognize and work hard at altering the reputation he has created for himself with the ref fraternity before his Habs get any closer to the playoffs. If Subban fails to find common ground with the referees on this issue, an undesirable penalty call could hurt his team at a most inopportune time in a game or playoff series. I strongly encourage P.K. to buy into what I am suggesting much sooner than later! Subban is far too good a player and much too valuable an asset for the Montreal Canadiens to be branded as a diver. While I probably would have handled the first situation between Krieder and Subban differently than referee Brad Watson, I understand the referees desire to put a stop to any nonsense that could get in the way of a great hockey match-up. After the whistle had stopped play and as both players were moving to their respective bench for a line change, KKrieder gave Subban a short shove with his stick to lower back of the Montreal player.dddddddddddd Subban went down like he was shot and Kreider tripped over Subbans feet and fell to the ice as well. The theatrics of Subbans unnatural fall to the contact by Kreider resulted in a trigger reaction by referee Watson to nip the circus atmosphere in the bud. Both players jawed at one another inside the penalty box and I saw the word fight mouthed by Kreider. It is reasonable to assume that the table was set for a mutually agreed upon fight once the two were released from the penalty box. There is no question that Kreider squared up to face Subban with his gloves dangling as he stepped out of the box. Subban skated toward his opponent and demonstrated a quick shoulder and arm shrug that would indicate an affirmative response to a fight invitation. Kreiders gloves flew off and Subban skated away with a mission accomplished feeling that he had drawn the Ranger player into taking a stand-alone penalty. The flaw in Subbans attempt came as a result of referee Watson trailing close behind the two players as they exited the penalty box. From this close proximity Watson observed the shoulder and hand shrug from Subban and assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for actions designed to incite an opponent into incurring a penalty (75.4 iii, v). The referee was dialed in and fully aware of the potential confrontation once Subban and Kreider hit the ice from the penalty box. Subban was not as innocent as you suggested Stephen and Joey and was penalized appropriately for his role in the second altercation. Referee Watson then approached both benches and read the riot act to each coach. Pierre McGuire, positioned between the benches quoted the referee as saying, Were here to play hockey, were not going to have embellishment, were not going to have guys staging fights, were not going to have any kind of garbage, were gonna have hockey tonight and Im gonna make sure of it! I would have had this conversation with the coaches immediately after the first situation involving Kreider and Subban. Rather than impose penalties on that play I would have told both players to get up off the ice and quit acting like clowns. I would then have followed them to their players bench and read the riot act to both coaches. In that conversation I would put the onus on the coach to deliver my message to their players and if any more nonsense took place I would be imposing a stand-alone penalty wherever possible. I would not limit myself to a minor penalty but the option to impose a misconduct would remain on the table. I would also make it clear that the penalty might be their player and they probably wouldnt see it coming so it was in the coachs best interest to control the troops! I issued this edict to coaches on many occasions with resounding success. Sometimes I even had to impose that stand-alone penalty until they got the message that I meant business. The Greatest Show On Earth performs annually at Madison Square Garden. On this night however, referee Brad Watson made sure the performance by the Rangers and Canadiens didnt turn into a circus. ' ' '