• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Rockies, Royals put interleague success on line

Jun 23, 2008 - 1:48 PM Colorado (32-44) at Kansas City (33-43) 8:10 pm EDT

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- Both the Kansas City Royals and Colorado Rockies wouldn't mind it if interleague lasted just a bit longer.

The Royals and Rockies - two of best teams in interleague play this season - put their dominance in that area on the line on Monday as the teams begin a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium.

Kansas City won its fourth consecutive interleague series in Sunday's thrilling 11-10 victory over San Francisco, improving to 9-3 against the National League. The Royals, who find themselves at the bottom of the American League standings, rallied from a 10-3 fifth-inning deficit to beat the Giants.

Colorado will be returning to interleague play after dropping two of three games over the weekend to the New York Mets. While the Rockies are just 25-42 against the NL, they are an impressive 6-2 against the AL, having won their last six games.

In an effort to post its seventh consecutive interleague win, Colorado will turn to Jeff Francis (3-6, 5.22 ERA), who will try to win two straight decisions for the first time all season. The lefthander allowed an earned run and five hits over six innings in Wednesday's 4-2 victory over Cleveland.

Kansas City will counter with Brian Bannister (6-6, 4.81), who will attempt to post his third straight winning decision. The righthander permitted two runs and nine hits over seven innings to remain unbeaten over his last five turns in Wednesday's 3-2 win at St. Louis.