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Twins seek to stop skid against Royals

Apr 30, 2011 - 2:47 PM (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Twins try to avoid a season-high fifth straight loss this evening when they resume a three-game set against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

The Twins' early-season woes continued in the opener of this series on Friday, as Jarrod Dyson raced home on a short pop-up to shallow left field, capping a two-run eighth inning and lifting Kansas City to a 4-3 win.

On base as a pinch runner after Kila Ka'aihue singled, Dyson's hustle led to both Kansas City runs in the inning. He stole second base, leading to a bad throw by Twins catcher Drew Butera that scored Wilson Betemit from third base.

Dyson moved to third on the play and tagged up after Twins shortstop Alexi Casilla fielded Alcides Escobar's short pop-up in shallow left. Escobar's momentum carried him away from the infield and his leaping throw was late to home plate.

Blake Wood (1-0) pitched 1 2/3 innings for the win and Joakim Soria threw a perfect ninth for his sixth save. Alex Burnett (0-1) took the loss in 1 2/3 innings of relief for Minnesota.

The win snapped a six-game losing streak for the Royals.

"It's almost like you forgot what it felt like to win a game when you drop six like that on the road," said Royals second baseman Chris Getz. "But one thing we had going for us is we're looking forward to getting home. We have been playing pretty well at home. Obviously we've been coming back a lot."

The Twins, meanwhile, have been outscored 33-9 during its four-game slide.

"We just don't have any pitching right now," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. "We needed as many (innings from starter Scott Baker) as we possibly could. We stretched him out as long as we possibly could, then we went to our other bullet to get us to the ninth and that was Burnett."

Kansas City starter Bruce Chen went 5 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on eight hits and two walks. Baker went 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits and a walk.

Tonight, the Twins turn to left-hander Brian Duensing, who has won his last two starts. Duensing earned the win last Saturday against Cleveland, as he allowed a runs and five hits in seven innings to improve to 2-0, while lowering his ERA to 3.00.

The Twins have won all four of Duensing's starts this season.

"I'm not at all a stopper or anything like that," Duensing said. "I'm not sure what?s going on, but I'll take it."

Duensing did not get a decision against the Royals back on April 12, but is a 4-0 lifetime against them with a 3.27 ERA in 11 games, just four of which have been starts.

Kansas City will counter with righty Sean O'Sullivan, who is 1-1 with a 4.20 ERA. O'Sullivan hasn't pitched since April 21 when he received a no-decision against the Cleveland Indians. O'Sullivan has pitched to a 1.64 ERA in his two starts this season.

He is 1-1 in two starts versus the Twins with a 5.06 ERA.

Though these two clubs split a two-game set at Minnesota on April 12-13, the Twins have still won 22 of their past 30 versus the Royals overall and 13 of the last 18 played at Kauffman Stadium.