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Twins seek to extend recent dominance of Royals

Apr 12, 2011 - 3:09 PM (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Twins try to continue their recent mastery of the Kansas City Royals this evening when the American League Central foes begin a two-game series at Target Field.

The Twins won 13 of their 18 matchups with the Royals last season and are 25-11 against them since the start of the 2009 campaign, with 12 of those wins coming in Minnesota.

However, the Twins have struggled to get out of the gates this season, as they have lost six of nine to start the year after dropping two of three at home to the Oakland Athletics over the weekend, culminating with a 5-3 setback on Sunday.

Scott Baker (0-2) was charged with four runs on seven hits in five-plus innings for the Twins, while Jim Thome homered and Justin Morneau finished 3- for-4 in the loss.

"You have to credit their pitching staff. They did a fine job the last three days," Thome said. "Sometimes when you're facing good pitching you have to credit the other side. We just have to keep battling."

Heading to the hill for the Twins tonight will be left-hander Brian Duensing, who will be making his second start of the season. Duensing did not get a decision last Tuesday against the Yankees, but allowed four runs and six hits in seven innings of his team's 5-4 win.

Duensing is a perfect 4-0 lifetime against the Royals, but of his 10 appearances against them, just three have been starts. Last year, though, Duensing won both of his starts against KC.

Kansas City, meanwhile, has been one of the league's surprises in the early going, winning six of its first nine games. The Royals picked up a series win over the Detroit Tigers over the weekend, as Wilson Betemit went 4-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI to power the Kansas City Royals to a 9-5 victory in Sunday's rubber match.

Billy Butler extended his hitting streak to eight games and Chris Getz knocked in two runs for the Royals, while Luke Hochevar (1-1) gave up four runs -- three earned -- on five hits and struck out six in seven innings.

"I thought he pitched very well," said Kansas City manager Ned Yost about his starting pitcher. "I was very impressed with the way he was [throwing] strikes, not walking anybody, changing speeds and keeping the ball down."

Hoping to keep this early season roll going tonight will be left-hander Jeff Francis, who has been terrific in his two starts, but is still searching for his first win. In his most recent outing on Wednesday against Chicago, Francis surrendered two runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings of his team's 10-7 loss.

Francis, who is pitching to a 1.98 ERA on the year, defeated the Twins the only other time he faced them back in 2008 while with Colorado.