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Royals, Twins continue series at Target Field

Jul 16, 2011 - 3:18 PM (Sports Network) - Jeff Francis will take the hill in hopes of doing something he has not done in over a month, while the Kansas City Royals will try to take the third contest of a four-game set against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.

The last time Francis landed in the win column was back on June 10th, so the southpaw is in desperate need of a victory. Since that win, the lefty has dropped four of five starts.

Francis pitched well the last time he was on the hill, but he suffered the loss due to a lack of run support. In six innings against Detroit the crafty veteran allowed just two runs and struck out six batters, but it still was not good enough to earn a victory.

One of Francis' 10 losses came against the Twins earlier this year, as the former first-round pick allowed four runs on six hits and two walks in seven innings. In three career starts against Minnesota, the lefty is 1-1 with a mediocre 3.98 earned run average.

The Twins will turn to Carl Pavano, who closed out the first half of the season with an even 6-6 mark thanks to a victory over Chicago.

In seven innings against the White Sox, the veteran right-hander held the division foes to just two runs on six hits. It was the third win in his last five starts.

One of Pavano's best starts this season came against the Royals, as he went the distance, allowing just two runs on nine hits. However, in 15 career appearances against KC, Pavano is just 8-6 with an atrocious 6.07 earned run average.

Last night, Eric Hosmer's two-run home run in the ninth inning helped the Royals take a 2-1 win over the Twins.

In the ninth with Matt Capps (2-5) on the mound, Melky Cabrera led off with a walk and then stole second. After Capps got the next two outs, Hosmer clubbed a pitch over the wall in dead center for a 2-1 lead.

Joakim Soria came on for the ninth and got into a jam. Jim Thome led off with a single and, after Danny Valencia flied out, Delmon Young singled to put men on first and third. Pinch-hitter Luke Hughes then hit a weak dribbler back to the mound that Soria scooped up with the glove and flipped it to home as Matt Treanor tagged out pinch-runner Matt Tolbert. Tsuyoshi Nishioka then grounded out to end the game and give Soria his 16th save of the season.

Hosmer's ninth home run of the season made a winner of Tim Collins (4-4), who pitched a scoreless eighth inning. Luke Hochevar went seven innings in the start and was charged with just one run on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts in helping the Royals snap a two-game slide.

Ben Revere went 2-for-4 and scored the only run for the Twins, who had won their previous two. Nick Blackburn was superb in the start, going seven innings and giving up just four hits and two walks with three strikeouts.

Minnesota swept a four-game set against the Royals from June 2-5 at Kauffman Stadium and is 6-5 in the 2011 season series.