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Twins-Royals Preview

Aug 23, 2009 - 5:30 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Minnesota (59-63) at Kansas City (47-74), 2:10 p.m. EDT

It's been more than a year since the Minnesota Twins swept a road series from an AL opponent. That came in Kansas City.

The Twins look to do it again when they conclude a three-game set against the lowly Royals on Sunday.

Minnesota (60-63) won for the fourth time in five games Saturday, beating Kansas City 8-7.

While the Twins are 27-36 away from home and could finish with a losing road record for a third straight season, they're 4-2 on a seven-game road trip. They are 11-3 at Kansas City since the start of the 2008 season.

Minnesota, which has won four in a row at Kansas City, hasn't swept a road series since a three-game set at San Diego from June 24-26, 2008. The Twins' three-game sweep of the Royals from May 27-29, 2008, marked the last time they swept an AL opponent on the road.

Kansas City (47-75) is a major-league worst 25-38 at home this season.

Jason Kubel drove in three runs and Michael Cuddyer hit his 20th homer Saturday for the Twins, who improved to 6-5 against the Royals in the third straight one-run contest between the teams.

"It doesn't matter what team's doing what," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told the Twins' official Web site. "When we play the Royals, it's always head-knocking, close ballgames."

Cuddyer, who has three homers and nine RBIs against the Royals this season, gave Minnesota four players with 20 or more homers for the first time since 1987.

Joe Mauer singled to keep his AL-leading average at .378. He's batting .487 against Kansas City this season.

The Twins hope Carl Pavano (10-9, 5.32 ERA) fares better against the Royals as he makes his second start in 11 days against them.

The veteran right-hander, 1-1 with a 5.00 ERA in three starts since being acquired in a trade with Cleveland, allowed five runs in seven innings in the Twins' 5-4 home loss to the Royals on Aug. 13.

Pavano is 1-4 with an 8.07 ERA in five starts against Kansas City, and 1-3 with a 7.99 ERA this season.

In has most recent start, Pavano gave up five runs in four innings Tuesday, but didn't receive a decision in a 9-6 loss at Texas.

David DeJesus is batting .333 against Pavano and had three hits with two RBIs on Saturday for Kansas City, which went 3 for 19 with runners in scoring position en route to its third straight loss.

"There was not a lot of fortunate situations for us," Royals manager Trey Hillman said.

DeJesus is hitting .404 with eight RBIs against Minnesota this season.

Brian Bannister (7-9, 4.44) looks to avoid a third loss in a row when he takes the ball for the Royals.

The right-hander is 0-2 with a 10.59 ERA in his last three starts. He gave up seven runs and 10 hits in seven innings Monday, but did not receive a decision in an 8-7 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

"I'm fighting my way through this," Bannister told the Royals' official Web site. "I know what I need to do. I just haven't gotten there yet."

Bannister is 3-3 with a 4.03 ERA in nine starts against Minnesota and 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in three this season.