KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Minnesota Twins manager Paul Molitor labeled it unraveling.Twins right-hander Tyler Duffey (8-9) retired the first 10 hitters, striking out four. But he only got one out from the final seven batters he faced before being removed by Molitor in an 8-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night.After Cheslor Cuthberts single with one out in the fourth, Duffey walked three and hit a batter with Alex Gordons third career grand slam punctuating the inning. Duffey was replaced by Michael Tonkin after 3 2/3 innings, allowing five runs.Unraveling, thats one word you can use, Molitor said. He had a nice start to the game. He rolled through the first 10 hitters. But, you know, its just one of those things, the young guys, they get in certain situations where, as much as you preach to them to slow down, they just have trouble doing it.After Cuthberts hit, Duffey walked Lorenzo Cain and Kendrys Morales and hit Salvador Perez with a pitch with the bases loaded.Gordons been hot ever since he left our park, Molitor said. He just misplaced a fastball and youre looking at five runs on two hits. So, it was tough.The Royals have won five straight and eight of nine to move above .500 for the first time since July 22. Royals starting pitchers have a 1.61 ERA in the five-game winning streak, allowing 23 hits and six earned runs in 33 2/3 innings, striking out 27 and walking seven.Gordon, who was hitting .199 with 16 RBI on Aug. 9, extended his hitting streak to a season-best nine games, hiking his average to .219. Gordon has homered in three consecutive games.I think I tried to adjust by being better, and ultimately being worse, Duffey said. Just kind of missing arm side with a fastball, then I end up yanking a curveball and then the one that Gordon hit out wasnt necessarily a good pitch to hit. It just went right into his swing path. And then, giving up a grand slam, thats what happens when you walk a guy and hit a guy. Thats a really good lineup. I gave them some chances and they took full advantage of it.Dillon Gee (5-6) picked up the Royals first victory from a No. 5 starter since May 31. The Royals are 9-21 is games started by the fifth starter.Gee, who is 3-6 in 10 starts, gave up a home run to Brian Dozier on his third pitch. It was Doziers 14th career leadoff homer and his 27th for the season. He has homered in five straight games against the Royals.That was the only run Gee would allow as he limited the Twins to four singles after the home run, walked one and struck out seven. Gees seven innings were a season high.He didnt throw too many heaters, Twins left fielder Robbie Grossman said. He really kept us off balance, threw his off-speed for strikes. That was a key for him.The Royals added three runs in the eighth with Morales and Eric Hosmer both driving in a run. The other run scored on a throwing error by center fielder Eddie Rosario.Cuthbert had three of the Royals seven hits, bringing his hit total to 100, which ranks second among AL rookies.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals: LHP Jason Vargas, who has not pitched this season after Tommy John surgery in July 2015, made his third rehab start Wednesday, giving up three runs and four hits, including two home runs, in 2 1/3 innings for Northwest Arkansas against Corpus Christi. He threw 42 pitches, 27 for strikes, while striking out one and walking none.UP NEXTTwins: RHP Jose Berrios yielded six runs, eight hits and a walk in two innings in his previous start, a 15-7 loss to Houston.Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez is 2-0 with a 2.95 ERA in three 2016 starts against the Twins.Julian Edelman Jersey . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. Tedy Bruschi Jersey . -- Adam Snyder returned to the San Francisco 49ers this season because the offensive lineman thought it was his best opportunity to win a championship. http://www.shoptheofficialpatriots.com/Elite-John-Hannah-Patriots-Jersey/ . Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz were sent to Toronto on Saturday as the Maple Leafs traded defenceman Jesse Blacker and draft picks to the Anaheim Ducks. Rob Gronkowski Jersey . -- Brandon Jennings made the most of his first game with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. Tedy Bruschi Patriots Jersey .Y. -- Leading 3-0 with only 11:25 left, the Colorado Avalanche committed a seemingly meaningless penalty to give the New York Islanders a power play.(STATS) -- So the Southland Conference title that second-ranked Sam Houston State is supposed to run away with this season …Saturdays high-scoring night across the conference suggested it wont be as easy as expected for the Bearkats.The night was punctuated by Central Arkansas 28-23 win over Arkansas State -- the second over an FBS program since the Bears joined the FCS in 2006. Ironically, wide receiver Brandon Cox, an Arkansas State transfer, scored the winning touchdown.We played our butts off against Oklahoma State (last year), coach Steve Campbell said. We played our butts off against Texas Tech (two years ago). And we played out butts off tonight. And its great to be proud of a team for fighting their butts off and then getting rewarded for it by winning the football game.Last year, only four of the 11 Southland teams posted winning records, but there appears to be better depth this season.Like Sam Houston (3-0) and Central Arkansas (3-1), Stephen F. Austin (3-1) also is 2-0 in the conference race, and the Lumberjacks are threatening to join the national rankings. They will try to turn the race upside down when they face the Bearkats next weekend in Houston.Then theres McNeese, which rebounded from a three-point loss to SFA with a win over Incarnate Word. The defending conference champion also has a matchup ahead with Sam Houston.Nicholls, which had a 23-game losing streak as recently as last October, wasnt even supposed to be in the conversation, but the Colonels have come within three points of two FBS programs -- a 41-40 heartbreaker to South Alabama this past Saturday after a 26-24 setback to Georgia to open the season.With 2013 and 14 Southland champ Southeastern Louisiana as well as Lamar still anxious to cause trouble in the conference behind All-America running back Kade Harrington, the title race has some potential spoilers.With talk always on Sam Houston making another deep run in the FCS playoffs, the Bearkats may not want to look ahead too often.---=SECOND AND 10=Ten more observations from the FCS weekend:1.) The Missouri Valley Football Conference, which only has conference games remaining in the regular season, had quite the impressive September against FBS programs. Its teams finished 4-6 overall with one win on each of the four Saturdays. Western Illinois 28-23 triumph at Northern Illinois joined Northern Iowa (Iowa State), Illinois State (Northwestern) and North Dakota State (Iowa) for a single-season record in the MVFC. We came in, theres always that FBS-FCS middle line separating us, Leathernecks quarterback Sean McGuire said. But weve seen its a thin line and obviously a lot of teams have shown that this year. We showed it today.2.) If Cal Poly has been the team overlooked for the Top 25 -- OK, the Big Sky squad wont this week after a third straight win over Montana -- then the team which has been overrated is William & Mary. The Tribe (2-2) were much too high in the national poll at No. 8 last week and a loss at Elon with wins only over two MEAC teams leaves them searching for an identity as their CAA Football schedule really toughens. They probably need to at least split their next two games on the road at New Hampshire and James Madison.3.) Ohio Valley Conference power Jacksonville State, last years national runner-up to North Dakota State, heads into its bye week knowing Auburn transfer Roc Thomas has come on strong to take pressure off quarterback Eli Jenkins, who also has his top wide receiver, Josh Barge, back from injury. The triple threat combined to dominate Liberty 48-19 Saturday night.4.) Theres a reason preseason polls are conducted before training camp. Once teams pick up footballs, everything changes. Look at some of the rough starts conference favorites are having: Richmond suffered a 28-point loss to Stony Brook in its CAA Football opener. Big Sky favorite Northern Arizona lost the game and quarterback Case Cookus to a shoulder injury at home against Eastern Washington. Alcorn State, thhe two-time defending SWAC champ, already has two conference losses.dddddddddddd5.) Speaking of Alcorn State, the rematch of last years SWAC Championship Game was one-sided as Grambling State handled the Braves 43-18. Transfer quarterback Devante Kincade had 482 total yards and a hand in all six Grambling touchdowns. The Braves, who travel to Arkansas next, arent the same team without injured QB Lenorris Footman.6.) San Diego played keep away from Dayton in winning 34-22 at home in the matchup of last years Pioneer Football League co-champs. The Toreros held the ball for 41 minutes, 25 seconds, only punting twice to Daytons eight times. Tevin Heywards 1-yard touchdown run gave the Toreros the lead with 4:31 left and Anthony Lawrences 62-yard scoring pass to Jonah Hodges sealed the win.7.) Just when it looked the Northeast Conference would remain without a signature win over an FCS scholarship program, Sacred Heart won 38-10 at No. 20 Stony Brook, just one week after Stony Brook pounded then-No. 2 Richmond 42-14. The Pioneers were mediocre last season after winning NEC titles in 2013 and 14, but coach Mark Nofri has an excellent senior class this season. Against Stony Brook, quarterback RJ Noel passed for a touchdown and also rushed for two scores, while the defense held an opponent scoreless in the second half for the fifth consecutive game.8.) Wofford (3-1) didnt allow East Tennessee State to reach its side of the field, surrendering only 76 yards in a 31-0 win that marked its second consecutive shutout. A program known for its triple option rushing, the Terriers also are taking away the run, allowing a mere 2.1 yards per carry and 56.5 yards per game. The Southern Conference squad wants to get back to the playoffs after a three-year absence, but its road schedule is brutally tough.9.) Georgetown struggles in the Patriot League as the only program not to offer football scholarships, but the Hoyas usually hold their own against other non-scholarship teams. Coach Rob Sgarlatas team beat Columbia 17-14 to improve to 3-0 -- all against non-scholarship teams. Quarterback Tim Barnes waited his turn to become the starter and has been efficient as a senior. A tough stretch await the Hoyas, beginning next Friday night at Harvard.10.) As expected, Delaware State was woefully overmatched in a 79-0 loss at Missouri, but second-year coach Kenny Carter sees the benefits for his MEAC program beyond the athletic departments much-needed payday: Lets do this comparison, he said. Compare it to being in the weight room and trying to get stronger. If youre in the weight room and youre lifting weights and youre lifting little weights, youre not going to get any stronger. Youve got to lift heavy weight to get stronger. And its the same thing in football. You go play opponents that you see are better than you, and on paper theyre definitely better than you, how are you going to refine your skill set or see where you are if you dont play people that are better?---=A LOOK AHEAD=Illinois State and North Dakota State, who have shared the last two Missouri Valley titles, meet for the first time in the regular season since 2013 next Saturday at the Fargodome.Other Top 25 matchups, depending on Mondays new STATS poll, have Western Illinois going to South Dakota State in the Missouri Valley and former Big South rivals Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina squaring off on the teal turf at Coastal.Also, key conference matchups include: Big Sky, Cal Poly at North Dakota and Southern Utah at Montana; CAA, Delaware at James Madison and William & Mary at New Hampshire; Ivy, Penn at Dartmouth (Friday night); MEAC, North Carolina Central at a surprisingly winless Bethune-Cookman; Southland, Sam Houston State vs. Stephen F. Austin in the Battle of the Piney Woods at NRG Stadium in Houston; and SWAC, Prairie View A&M at Grambling State. ' ' '