Kansas City Royals vs Minnesota Twins mlb live streamed online feed radio commentary highquality broadcast espn 360 telecast april 13, 2011. Game Review: Two poor outings have the Minnesota Twins somewhat concerned about Francisco Liriano. Perhaps pitching at home against an opponent he dominated last season will help end his woes.
Liriano (0-2, 7.71 ERA) has failed to make it past the fifth inning in his first two starts. He gave up four runs and three walks over five innings in last Thursday's 4-3 road loss to the Yankees, and manager Ron Gardenhire said afterward that Liriano "falls in love with his slider" too much.
Liriano's control in the early going has again been an issue with eight walks and eight strikeouts. His strikeout-to-walk ratio in April of 1.8-to-1 is his worst mark in any month.
Match time: 1:10 PM ET, April 13, 2011
Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Gameday Matchup
Kansas City Minnesota
W-L 6 - 4 4 - 6
Night 2-1 2-3
Grass 6-4 3-4
Current Streak L1 W1
Last 10 6-4 4-6
Pitching Matchup
Kansas City Minnesota
Kyle Davies
0-1, 9.00 ERA
Last appearance:
4/08 at DET
3.2 IP, 5 ER
Dec = Loss Francisco Liriano
0-2, 7.71 ERA
Last appearance:
4/07 at NYY
5.0 IP, 4 ER
Dec = Loss
Injury Report
Kansas City
No significant injuries
Minnesota
* Juan Morillo SP - Apr 11: Day-To-Day
* Kevin Slowey SP - Apr 9: 15-Day DL
The left-hander went 7-5 with a 3.11 ERA in 16 starts at Target Field last year. Liriano won both 2010 starts against Kansas City (6-4), posting a 1.29 ERA with 10 strikeouts and no walks.
Royals slugger Billy Butler is 3 for 18 against Liriano. Butler had his eight-game hitting streak snapped when he went 0 for 4 in Tuesday's 4-3, 10-inning loss in the series opener.
Minnesota (4-6) finally got its bats untracked, as Michael Cuddyer went 4 for 4 as part of a 13-hit attack. Cuddyer entered the game 3 for 28.
Danny Valencia singled with the bases loaded in the 10th to produce the winning run. Minnesota's bullpen came up with four scoreless innings, and has allowed one run in its last 20.
"The sky's the limit," reliever Dusty Hughes said. "You look at the back end of it: We've got two closers. Not many teams can say that."
The Twins entered with a .214 average for the second-worst mark in the majors. They have also been putting pressure on their starters by failing to score in the first two innings in every game so far.
Boos have rained down from the fans, who failed to sell out Target Field for the first time in 82 games Tuesday. Joe Mauer (.235), Justin Morneau (.222) and Delmon Young (.189) are all off to slow starts.
"They just want us to get hits," Gardenhire said. "Everybody wants to get off to a good start. Obviously we haven't."
Those hitters will try to get going against Kyle Davies (0-1, 9.00), who is off to a bad start like Liriano. Davies gave up five runs over 3 2/3 innings Friday in a 5-2 loss at Detroit.
The right-hander is 4-6 with a 5.73 ERA in 11 starts against Minnesota. Mauer is 10 for 24 against him and Jason Kubel 10 for 22, but Morneau is just 2 for 19.
Kansas City manager Ned Yost will likely bench left-handed hitter Kila Ka'aihue for the second straight game with the Royals facing another left-hander after Brian Duensing started Tuesday for the Twins. Ka'aihue is 6 for 34 this year.
The Royals have lost their last four at Target Field, three by one run.
Recent Scores:
RoyalsHe'll make his first start at Target Field in 2011 on Wednesday and try to lead the Twins to a two-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals.
(6-4, 2-2 away)
Twins
(4-6, 2-2 home)
Liriano (0-2, 7.71 ERA) has failed to make it past the fifth inning in his first two starts. He gave up four runs and three walks over five innings in last Thursday's 4-3 road loss to the Yankees, and manager Ron Gardenhire said afterward that Liriano "falls in love with his slider" too much.
Liriano's control in the early going has again been an issue with eight walks and eight strikeouts. His strikeout-to-walk ratio in April of 1.8-to-1 is his worst mark in any month.
Match time: 1:10 PM ET, April 13, 2011
Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Gameday Matchup
Kansas City Minnesota
W-L 6 - 4 4 - 6
Night 2-1 2-3
Grass 6-4 3-4
Current Streak L1 W1
Last 10 6-4 4-6
Pitching Matchup
Kansas City Minnesota
Kyle Davies
0-1, 9.00 ERA
Last appearance:
4/08 at DET
3.2 IP, 5 ER
Dec = Loss Francisco Liriano
0-2, 7.71 ERA
Last appearance:
4/07 at NYY
5.0 IP, 4 ER
Dec = Loss
Injury Report
Kansas City
No significant injuries
Minnesota
* Juan Morillo SP - Apr 11: Day-To-Day
* Kevin Slowey SP - Apr 9: 15-Day DL
The left-hander went 7-5 with a 3.11 ERA in 16 starts at Target Field last year. Liriano won both 2010 starts against Kansas City (6-4), posting a 1.29 ERA with 10 strikeouts and no walks.
Royals slugger Billy Butler is 3 for 18 against Liriano. Butler had his eight-game hitting streak snapped when he went 0 for 4 in Tuesday's 4-3, 10-inning loss in the series opener.
Minnesota (4-6) finally got its bats untracked, as Michael Cuddyer went 4 for 4 as part of a 13-hit attack. Cuddyer entered the game 3 for 28.
Danny Valencia singled with the bases loaded in the 10th to produce the winning run. Minnesota's bullpen came up with four scoreless innings, and has allowed one run in its last 20.
"The sky's the limit," reliever Dusty Hughes said. "You look at the back end of it: We've got two closers. Not many teams can say that."
The Twins entered with a .214 average for the second-worst mark in the majors. They have also been putting pressure on their starters by failing to score in the first two innings in every game so far.
Boos have rained down from the fans, who failed to sell out Target Field for the first time in 82 games Tuesday. Joe Mauer (.235), Justin Morneau (.222) and Delmon Young (.189) are all off to slow starts.
"They just want us to get hits," Gardenhire said. "Everybody wants to get off to a good start. Obviously we haven't."
Those hitters will try to get going against Kyle Davies (0-1, 9.00), who is off to a bad start like Liriano. Davies gave up five runs over 3 2/3 innings Friday in a 5-2 loss at Detroit.
The right-hander is 4-6 with a 5.73 ERA in 11 starts against Minnesota. Mauer is 10 for 24 against him and Jason Kubel 10 for 22, but Morneau is just 2 for 19.
Kansas City manager Ned Yost will likely bench left-handed hitter Kila Ka'aihue for the second straight game with the Royals facing another left-hander after Brian Duensing started Tuesday for the Twins. Ka'aihue is 6 for 34 this year.
The Royals have lost their last four at Target Field, three by one run.