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Twins sweep doubleheader from Royals

Jul 1, 2012 - 3:31 AM Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Cole De Vries seems to enjoy pitching at Target Field.

In only his fourth career start and second in Minneapolis, De Vries allowed one run in six innings to help the Twins sweep a day-night doubleheader with a 5-1 victory over the Royals.

De Vries (2-1) allowed five hits and a walk while striking out six for the Twins, who swept a doubleheader for the first time at Target Field. The comforts of home have helped the rookie thus far: he's allowed one run in 11 innings at home, compared to seven runs in 10 innings on the road.

It's the second straight solid pitching performance for the Twins after Scott Diamond allowed two runs in eight innings during Minnesota's 7-2 win earlier Saturday.

The Twins used the home run in the nightcap, as Joe Mauer, Josh Willingham and Chris Parmelee all went deep in the victory.

Billy Butler homered for the Royals, who have lost five of nine. Luke Hochevar (5-8) allowed five runs on eight hits in six innings.

"From the first game we were dead, and it carried over to the second game," said Royals outfielder Jeff Francoeur. "We're a much better hitting team than to do what we did today. Probably the most disappointing day of the year."

The ball was flying out in the nightcap, as every run but one was scored via the home run.

The Twins got on the board in the opening inning, when Willingham followed Mauer's two-out single with a blast to left.

Butler led off the second with a home run to cut Kansas City's deficit in half, but it was all they got.

The Royals put runners on second and third with only one out later in the inning, but De Vries struck out Jarrod Dyson and Alcides Escobar to end the threat.

Parmelee immediately restored Minnesota's two-run cushion with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the second.

"It was 0-2 so I was just looking for a pitch to put in play and it happened to go out," said Parmelee about his home run.

Mauer's fourth homer of the season with one out in the third made it a 4-1 contest, and Darin Mastroianni's two-out RBI single in the sixth pushed the margin to four.

The Twins used a combination of Alex Burnett, Tyler Robertson and Jared Burton to shut down the Royals for the final three innings. They combined to pitch three shutout innings with only one hit allowed.

Game Notes

The Twins came into the day 1-7 in their four previous doubleheaders...Parmelee's homer was his first of the season...Minnesota leads the season series, 5-3.