Minnesota Twins vs Kansas City Royals Major League Baseball Streaming Live Online Video Feed Radio Commentary Espn 360 Gamecast Webcast Review Schedule Roster Power Ranking June 2, 2011. Back-to-back victories helped Kansas City win its first series in three weeks. There's a good chance the Royals can remain successful with the reeling Minnesota Twins in town.
The Royals try to beat the major league-worst Twins for a fifth consecutive time in the opener of a four-game set Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals are 5-13 since leaving the Bronx, but a visit from Minnesota (17-37) might help them string together some much-needed wins. Kansas City has outscored the Twins 35-13 in four victories since losing the season-series opener, including 21-5 in the final two of a three-game home sweep April 29-May 1.
Owners of the worst record in baseball, the Twins have lost four in a row and 10 of 12.
"Guys are playing," manager Ron Gardenhire told the Twins' official website. "It's just finding a way to win now."
Butler, who is batting .366 in his last 10 games overall, is 4 for 8 with a homer in his last two versus Minnesota. Alex Gordon is batting .385 in his last seven home games, and 381 with seven RBIs in the season series against the Twins.
After Felipe Paulino and four relievers combined on a seven-hitter Wednesday, Sean O'Sullivan (2-4, 6.75 ERA) tries to avoid a third consecutive rough outing for the Royals.
O'Sullivan went 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA in his first five starts of 2011, but is 0-2 with a 13.80 ERA in his last three. He allowed 10 runs -- six coming off five homers -- and 15 hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 10-1 loss at Texas on Saturday.
He also pitched through some lingering tendinitis.
"I get it once or twice every year," O'Sullivan said. "It's nothing that sticks with me. I pitch through it one or two times and it goes away."
O'Sullivan has had control troubles in his last two starts against Minnesota -- walking 13 batters over 12 innings -- of his last two starts -- but has posted a 1-0 record in those outings while limiting the Twins to two earned runs and seven hits. The right-hander walked seven, but held Minnesota to two runs and two hits in six innings April 30, not getting a decision as the Royals won 11-2.
Jim Thome is 3 for 6 with two homers against O'Sullivan, but could miss the series opener after suffering a mild quadriceps strain in Minnesota's 4-2 loss at Detroit on Wednesday.
It appears to be yet another blow for the Twins, who have been without injured star Joe Mauer (leg and shoulder) since April 12 and slugger Jason Kubel (foot) the last two games. Either Kubel or Thome could soon join Mauer on the disabled list.
"We'll have to make a decision between Kubel and Thome," Gardenhire said. "We can't play two down, and we can't just go day-to-day with everyone."
Minnesota's Anthony Swarzak (0-2, 3.60) makes his second straight start in place of the injured Francisco Liriano (shoulder inflammation).
The right-hander certainly earned another shot after limiting the Angels to one hit -- an eighth-inning double -- and two walks over eight innings Saturday. The Twins went on to win 1-0 in 10 innings. They haven't won since.
The Royals try to beat the major league-worst Twins for a fifth consecutive time in the opener of a four-game set Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium.
8:10 PM ET, June 2, 2011
Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Thursday, June 2, 2011Kansas City (25-30) had lost three straight and eight of nine before taking the final two of a three-game home set against the Los Angeles Angels. Billy Butler's two-run, ninth-inning homer needed to be reviewed but eventually gave the Royals a 2-0 victory Wednesday and their first winning series since taking two of three at Yankee Stadium from May 10-12.
TEAMS TIME (ET) NAT TV RESOURCES PITCHERS
Pittsburgh at NY Mets 1:10 PM Maholm vs Pelfrey
Texas at Cleveland 7:05 PM Bush vs Carrasco
Minnesota at Kansas City 8:10 PM Swarzak vs O'Sullivan
San Francisco at St. Louis 8:15 PM Sanchez vs Lynn
Washington at Arizona 9:40 PM Zimmermann vs Duke
Houston at San Diego 10:05 PM Norris vs Stauffer
Tampa Bay at Seattle 10:10 PM Shields vs Hernandez
The Royals are 5-13 since leaving the Bronx, but a visit from Minnesota (17-37) might help them string together some much-needed wins. Kansas City has outscored the Twins 35-13 in four victories since losing the season-series opener, including 21-5 in the final two of a three-game home sweep April 29-May 1.
Owners of the worst record in baseball, the Twins have lost four in a row and 10 of 12.
"Guys are playing," manager Ron Gardenhire told the Twins' official website. "It's just finding a way to win now."
Butler, who is batting .366 in his last 10 games overall, is 4 for 8 with a homer in his last two versus Minnesota. Alex Gordon is batting .385 in his last seven home games, and 381 with seven RBIs in the season series against the Twins.
After Felipe Paulino and four relievers combined on a seven-hitter Wednesday, Sean O'Sullivan (2-4, 6.75 ERA) tries to avoid a third consecutive rough outing for the Royals.
O'Sullivan went 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA in his first five starts of 2011, but is 0-2 with a 13.80 ERA in his last three. He allowed 10 runs -- six coming off five homers -- and 15 hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 10-1 loss at Texas on Saturday.
He also pitched through some lingering tendinitis.
"I get it once or twice every year," O'Sullivan said. "It's nothing that sticks with me. I pitch through it one or two times and it goes away."
O'Sullivan has had control troubles in his last two starts against Minnesota -- walking 13 batters over 12 innings -- of his last two starts -- but has posted a 1-0 record in those outings while limiting the Twins to two earned runs and seven hits. The right-hander walked seven, but held Minnesota to two runs and two hits in six innings April 30, not getting a decision as the Royals won 11-2.
Jim Thome is 3 for 6 with two homers against O'Sullivan, but could miss the series opener after suffering a mild quadriceps strain in Minnesota's 4-2 loss at Detroit on Wednesday.
It appears to be yet another blow for the Twins, who have been without injured star Joe Mauer (leg and shoulder) since April 12 and slugger Jason Kubel (foot) the last two games. Either Kubel or Thome could soon join Mauer on the disabled list.
"We'll have to make a decision between Kubel and Thome," Gardenhire said. "We can't play two down, and we can't just go day-to-day with everyone."
Minnesota's Anthony Swarzak (0-2, 3.60) makes his second straight start in place of the injured Francisco Liriano (shoulder inflammation).
The right-hander certainly earned another shot after limiting the Angels to one hit -- an eighth-inning double -- and two walks over eight innings Saturday. The Twins went on to win 1-0 in 10 innings. They haven't won since.