Kansas City @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 12, 2012 ) Kansas City 10, Minnesota 5
The Kansas City Royals attempt to complete their first three-game road sweep of the season Thursday, when they face the Minnesota Twins in the finale of their series at Target Field. Kansas City has outscored Minnesota 19-6 over the first two games of the set, putting together a five-run fifth inning and a four-run eighth in Wednesday's 10-5 triumph. The Royals swept a two-game series at Texas on May 14-15.
Kansas City is just 7-10 against Minnesota this season but has won each of the last three meetings. The Twins, who are 3-3 on their 10-game homestand, has not been swept at home since dropping three to Tampa Bay from Aug. 10-12. Minnesota received an early boost Wednesday as Denard Span returned from the disabled list to go 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Span, who had been sidelined with a shoulder injury, led off the first inning with a triple and scored the game's first run, then began the third with a single and came around when Ryan Doumit was walked with the bases loaded.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN (Kansas City, Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Luis Mendoza (7-9, 4.63 ERA) vs. Twins RH Liam Hendriks (0-7, 6.20)
Mendoza's winless streak reached four starts Friday, when he surrendered five runs and 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision at Chicago. The 28-year-old Mexican has not won since Aug. 17, when he allowed two runs in seven frames against the White Sox. Mendoza is 2-1 in four games - three starts - versus Minnesota this season, including a no-decision on July 21 in which he gave up three runs in 6 1/3 innings.
Hendriks still is in search of his first major-league victory. The 23-year-old Australian is coming off a no-decision against Cleveland on Friday in which he allowed four runs over five innings. Hendriks, who is 0-4 in six starts at home, was tagged for five runs - three earned - and 10 hits in just 3 2/3 frames at Kansas City on Sept. 1 but escaped without a decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. Twins C Joe Mauer missed the first two games of the series with back spasms.
2. Royals C Salvador Perez enters with a 16-game hitting streak, while Twins 3B Jamey Carroll has hit safely in each of his last 10 contests.
3. Minnesota LF Doumit joined Oakland 1B Brandon Moss as the only players to commit three errors in one inning this season. Doumit accomplished the dubious feat in the eighth inning of Wednesday's 10-5 loss.