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Twins ride Duensing to four-game sweep in KC

Jun 5, 2011 - 9:59 PM Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Talk about your rebound starts.

Five days after getting knocked around by the Tigers, Brian Duensing tossed eight shutout innings to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 6-0 victory and four- game sweep of the Kansas City Royals.

Duensing gave up six runs in only 4 2/3 innings against the Tigers this past Tuesday. But the left-hander limited the Royals to six hits and a walk, while striking out four. Duensing (3-5) also picked up his first win since April 23.

Jason Repko went 2-for-4 with three RBI to pace the Twins' offense.

Jeff Francis (2-6) gave up four runs -- only one earned -- in seven innings to take the loss, the Royals' seventh in their last nine games.

They got behind early on Sunday. After Ben Revere opened the game with a single, Alexi Casilla bunted and reached on a throwing error by first baseman Eric Hosmer.

Francis recorded an out before walking Danny Valencia to load the bases.

A run scored when Delmon Young grounded into a fielder's choice that left runners on the corners, but Francis did himself no favor by walking Luke Hughes.

Repko followed with a single up the middle, plating two for a 3-0 edge. Hughes doubled in the sixth before scoring on Repko's liner into left field, and that was plenty of support for Duensing.

The Twins starter avoided trouble and escaped the few small jams he faced. He struck out Wilson Betemit after the Royals put two on with two away in the fourth, and he fanned Alex Gordon to end the fifth after Alcides Escobar advanced to third.

He didn't get a chance to complete the shutout after throwing a career-high 113 pitches -- 70 for strikes.

But he left the Twins in good position. Matt Tolbert smacked a two-run triple in the nine and Matt Capps preserved the shutout in the bottom half.

Game Notes

The Twins recorded their first four-game sweep since July 12-15, 2007 vs. Oakland...The Royals fell to 2-5 on their 11-game homestand, their longest of the season...Kansas City designated hitter Billy Butler had a game-high three hits.