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Royals try to break the brooms out on Twins

Apr 20, 2014 - 1:36 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Kansas City right-hander Yordano Ventura makes his first career start against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday afternoon when the Royals go for a three-game sweep in the finale of a series at Kauffman Stadium.

Kansas City has won five games in a row, a stretch that began when Ventura allowed two runs in seven innings of a 4-2 victory at Houston on Tuesday -- his first victory as a major leaguer.

Ventura has walked nine batters in 28 1/3 career innings. The Twins on the other hand have drawn 88 walks this season, which leads the majors.

"I feel really good," Ventura said. "I feel that the team supported me and played really good defense and scored a lot of runs for me."

Minnesota will start righty Phil Hughes, who again tries for his first victory in a Twins uniform.

He threw five scoreless innings against Toronto on Tuesday, but was ultimately chased in the sixth without recording an out en route to a 9-3 loss.

"I thought the ball was coming out of his hand really good," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "All of a sudden I think it was three or four hits in a row and I don't know what happened."

Hughes has given up four runs in each of his three 2014 starts. He's 5-2 with a 6.10 ERA in eight starts against Kansas City in his career.

On Saturday, the Royals used a five-run fourth inning to beat the Twins, 5-4.

Omar Infante, Nori Aoki, Justin Maxwell and Mike Moustakas each had an RBI for the Royals, while Alex Gordon went 3-for-4 with a run scored in the team's fifth straight win.

Kansas City starter Bruce Chen (1-1) allowed four runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and four walks over five innings. He was scheduled to pitch Thursday but was scratched due to back stiffness.

Kurt Suzuki hit a solo homer and knocked in three runs for the Twins, who went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight. Aaron Hicks added an RBI.

Minnesota starter Kevin Correia (0-2) gave up five runs -- four earned -- on nine hits over six full frames.