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Meche hopes to snap winless streak in nightcap

Aug 31, 2007 - 3:06 PM Kansas City at Minnesota 8:10 pm EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - Gil Meche looks to end his hard-luck streak as the Kansas City Royals face the Minnesota Twins in the nightcap of their doubleheader on Friday.

Meche (7-11, 3.85 ERA) has turned in four straight solid starts - allowing two earned runs in each game - but he has been haunted by inconsistent offense and a shaky relief corps.

In his last start, he left with 3-2 lead against Cleveland after allowing two runs and seven hits over six frames only to see the bullpen lose the lead in the ninth on their way to a 5-3, 11-inning loss.

In his prior start, the righthander left after 5 2/3 innings without any runs from his offense, extending Meche's winless streak to seven starts. The good news for the Royals ace is that he 5-2 with a 4.22 ERA in 10 career starts against the Twins.

Scott Baker (7-6, 4.42) has not been quite as consistent lately as Meche, but his results have been slightly better. In Sunday's 11-3 victory over Baltimore, he allowed three runs - two earned - and seven hits over six innings to pick up his first win in four outings.

In four career starts against Kansas City, the righthander is 1-2 with a 3.33 ERA.