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Royals-Twins Preview

Apr 17, 2010 - 11:10 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Kansas City (4-6) at Minnesota (8-3), 2:10 p.m. EDT

Carl Pavano's 2010 season is off to a promising start with back-to-back victories, including a memorable one in the inaugural game at Target Field.

A third consecutive win would produce another first at the Minnesota Twins' new ballpark.

Pavano can help complete the first sweep for the Twins at their outdoor stadium as they look for their sixth straight win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

Waived by Cleveland last year after an injury-filled tenure with the New York Yankees, Pavano appears headed toward a more successful stint with the Twins, which began with a respectable finish to 2009.

Pavano (2-0, 1.38 ERA) has been even better this season, allowing a total of two runs, 10 hits and one walk in 13 innings, striking out 10. He held Boston to four hits in six innings of a 5-2 win in Minnesota's home opener Monday.

"I was definitely excited," Pavano told the Twins' official website. "We've been doing it from the beginning of the year, playing great baseball. So I had a good demeanor out there. I felt pretty good and these guys came through."

The veteran is familiar with the Royals after starting seven games against them last year - the first three for the Indians and the final four after the Twins acquired him in a waiver deal on Aug. 7.

Despite a 6.59 ERA versus Kansas City in 2009, he still managed to go 4-3, winning the last three thanks to ample run support from his Minnesota teammates.

Michael Cuddyer had eight home runs and 19 RBIs as the Twins (9-3) went 12-6 against the Royals last year, and after two more victories this week, Minnesota has won five straight and 10 of 11 against Kansas City.

Cuddyer has a six-game hitting streak overall, going 10 for 25 (.400) in that stretch with two homers and nine RBIs, and he's just one piece in a powerful Minnesota offense that has racked up 35 hits and 24 runs during a three-game winning streak.

Reigning AL MVP Joe Mauer went 2 for 4 in Saturday's 6-5 win to boost his average to .341, also driving in his ninth and 10th runs of the season.

"Those guys are going to put it in play, they're going to hit the ball out of the park and it's great," Twins pitcher Nick Blackburn said. "Who knows where we'd be if we didn't have the offense that we do have right now."

Royals right-hander Luke Hochevar has felt the effects, going 1-2 with a 6.04 ERA against the Twins. In his first visit to the Twin Cities, he allowed seven runs - including two Jason Kubel home runs - in three innings of a 13-4 loss at the Metrodome on Oct. 4.

Hochevar (1-0, 2.84) had a promising season debut, pitching 7 2-3 shutout innings against Detroit on April 7. He wasn't as good against the Tigers on Monday, allowing five runs - four earned - in five-plus innings, although he did pick up the victory as the Royals won 10-5.

Kansas City (4-7) has since lost three of four, and the team's bullpen was dealt its fourth loss of the season Saturday when John Parrish allowed a go-ahead run to Orlando Hudson in the seventh inning.

Minnesota, meanwhile, got a sixth save in as many opportunities from Jon Rauch, who continues to pitch well in place of injured closer Joe Nathan.