MINNEAPOLIS -- Kyle Gibson wasnt dominant in his first major league start, but he still pitched well enough to make a bit of Minnesota Twins history and give the team a reason to be optimistic about the future of its pitching staff. Four years after being Minnesotas top pick in the 2009 draft, Gibson pitched six solid innings, and Trevor Plouffe homered to help the Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 6-2 on Saturday. The long road from draft day to starting pitcher included a Tommy John-surgery detour, but it ultimately ended with Gibson becoming Minnesotas first first-round pick to win a start in his major league debut. He did it in front of about 30 family members and friends. "It was an amazing day, really," Gibson said. "I was pretty nervous the last couple of days leading up to it, and was able to calm the nerves somehow. I think seeing a couple of familiar faces before I started throwing, and a little prayer before the game definitely helped me calm my nerves, but it was a great day." Gibson (1-0) allowed two runs and eight hits, and he struck out five. He allowed two runs in the third inning on RBI singles by Alcides Escobar and Salvador Perez, and he hit Escobar in the fifth. But he worked out of several jams and recorded his first 1-2-3 inning in the sixth thanks to some nice defence by Pedro Florimon at short. "Weve been waiting for this for a while, and Im sure he has, too," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Going through the elbow thing, and all the rehab and all the hard work that hes put in, its a big moment. A big moment for him." Gibson had plenty of early help as Minnesota scored five in the first inning. Wade Davis (4-6) was yanked after giving up another run in the second with no one out. The one-inning outing marked Davis shortest outing of the season for the Royals, who have lost seven of 10. "Never," Davis said when asked if hed ever had a similar outing. "Not that short, anyways. Just frustrating to look back and look how that played out." On Friday night, the Royals hit a season-high four homers against the Twins. They couldnt muster much of anything against Gibson through six innings, or against relievers Brian Duensing, Casey Fien or Glen Perkins. Kansas City loaded the bases with one out against Fien in the eighth, but Lorenzo Cain and Miguel Tejada both struck out swinging. "We got kind of put in a hole early there," first baseman Eric Hosmer said. "We were trying to inch back, and inch back. Just fell short." Gibsons long-awaited arrival to the Twins rotation came this week after starter Mike Pelfrey was placed on the disabled list because of a strained back. He received the loudest cheers during pregame introductions, and he delighted the crowd by striking out slugger Billy Butler to end the first inning. "I think everybody in this room knows that feeling the first day that they step out there, nerves are going, but he handled it about as good as you could," catcher Joe Mauer said. Minnesota had been outscored 74-39 in the first inning this season, but the Twins pounced right away on Davis, who gave up a two-run double to Justin Morneau and a two-run homer to Plouffe. Florimons RBI-single made it 5-0, and Gibson calmly handled the Royals lineup the rest of the way with pitches that consistently reached into the 90-mph range. "You hear a lot about him, and hes got great makeup and great pitches, and hes going to be good one," Mauer said. NOTES: The Royals designated OF Jeff Francoeur for assignment after the game to make room for 2B Johnny Giavotella, who was called up from Triple-A Omaha. . Davis had been 3-0 in eight career appearances against the Twins. ... It took Davis 53 pitches to get through the first inning. It was the most first-inning pitches by a major-league starting pitcher since Wandy Rodrigues threw 55 on Aug. 1, 2007, at Atlanta for Houston. Davis threw 69 before being relieved by Will Smith in the second. "He fought his command. His stuff was OK, but he just didnt locate. Ive never seen a 50-pitch inning," Royals manager Ned Yost said. . Plouffe stretched his hitting streak to 11 games, the second longest of his career. His highest is a 17-games spurt from June 30-July 19, 2012. ... Gibson is the eighth rookie used by the Twins this season. ... The Twins will go for the series win on Sunday when they send right-hander Kevin Correia (6-5) to the mound. The Royals counter with Ervin Santana (5-5). Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys . LOUIS -- Attorneys for the St. Justin Faulk Jersey . Parker had 26 points and eight assists and San Antonio beat Toronto 112-99 Monday night. "We won that game because of Tony Parkers aggressiveness," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "His juice; his aggression all night long. http://www.hurricanessale.com/customized/ . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Rod Brind Amour Jersey . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. Making his first appearance since injuring his wrist a month ago, Del Potro had difficulty with his service games in the first set. ATLANTA -- Andrew Bailey cant explain why hes pitching so poorly. He just knows the Philadelphia Phillies might not give him many more chances.Clearly Im struggling. Its frustrating to go through this, he said Sunday after allowing Jeff Francoeurs tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh inning of the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves.Bailey (3-1) has allowed 19 earned runs in his last 16 2/3 innings.Mauricio Cabrera (2-0), the fourth of six Atlanta pitchers, pitched a one-hit seventh.Jimmy Paredes entered as a defensive replacement in the seventh and homered against Chris Withrow in the eighth.Jim Johnson pitched a hitless ninth for his sixth save in nine chances. After Tommy Josephs leadoff walk, Aaron Altherr grounded into a double play and Carlos Ruiz struck out.Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff faced one over the minimum and struck out one in five innings, throwing 34 of 51 pitches for strikes. Jace Peterson reached on an infield single in the fourth, but Eickhoff got Freddie Freeman to ground into a double play.Eickhoff was replaced by David Hernandez to begin the sixth following a 24-minute rain delay.Not taking any chances when you sit for a half hour, manager Pete Mackanin said.Bailey allowed four batters to reach that were down two strikes in the count. He elevated a fastball on the outside corner against Franceour but didnt expect him to swing and go to the opposite field.Yeah, it surprised me, Bailey said, but thats kind of the way things are going for me.Philadelphias offense missed on a couple of chances through the first five innings. Altherr ran through third-base coach Juan Samuels sign and was thrown out at third.The Phillies went 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position and have hit .151 in those situations over the last 10 games.ddddddddddddFrancoeurs homer was his first at Turner Field as a Brave since June 24, 2009, against the Yankees.When I was 22 or 23, it was like, `Oh, Ill do it again tomorrow, he said. It was a good opportunity to get in there today and contribute.Braves starter Joel De La Cruz gave up three hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings in his third big league start. The 27-year-old made his first start and eighth appearance since July 4, when he gave up seven runs -- four earned -- in the second inning of an 8-2 loss at Philadelphia.HELP ON THE WAYWith the majors least productive offense, Atlanta is eager to have slugger Matt Kemp in the lineup after Saturday nights trade with San Diego. The 31-year-old outfielder is to make his Braves debut Tuesday against Pittsburgh. Kemp was acquired for troubled outfielder Hector Olivera and $10.5 million.SLUMPING FRANCOMaikel Franco is hitless in 17 at-bats, dropping his batting average to .297.BEEN A WHILEWhen the Phillies scored four runs in the eighth of Saturdays 9-5 win, it marked the first time since 1992 that they sent nine straight batters to the plate in an inning without getting a hit. Atlanta walked four, committed two fielding errors and hit a batter.TRAINERS ROOMAtlanta LHP Matt Marksberry was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a rotator cuff inflammation. INF Daniel Castro was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett.UP NEXT:Phillies: RHP Zach Eflin (3-4) is to start Tuesday against San Francisco. He allowed five hits and no earned runs in six innings of a no-decision June 24 at the Giants.Braves: RHP Mike Foltynewicz (4-4) is slated to pitch Tuesday against Pittsburgh. ' ' '