I still can't get over the performance of Luis Mendoza on Friday.

Dozer is the ultimate "pitch to contact" starter on the Royals staff. It's just who he is. For his career, he has a 4.6 SO/9. Last night, he didn't record his first strikeout until the fifth inning. On the night where he threw 115 pitches, Twins batters swing and missed at only five.

And it was the best start of his career.

More details after the jump...

- The 8 IP topped his previous career high in a start. Previously, the longest he had gone in a start was 7.2 innings. That happened last September in a 2-1 win against the White Sox.

- His Game Score of 73 was a personal best. He previous high score came in that start against the Sox where he finished with a Game Score of 67. His third best Game Score is 59.

- The five strikeouts are the second most he's thrown in a single start. He also whiffed five in a start against the Cardinals a couple of weeks ago. His career high for strikeouts in a start is eight, set way back in 2008.

- The 115 pitches was also a career high. His previous record was 102, which he posted in a September start against the Tigers last September. It was the third time in his career he topped 100 pitches. He threw 100 exactly in that other September start against the White Sox.

Finally, from Brooks Baseball, here is his velocity chart from Friday's start.

Pretty interesting that he was able to maintain his velocity throughout the game.