Santana looks for win 4 and stop losing skid

[Durango53]

Kansas City (5-9) at Minnesota (8-6), 7:10 p.m. CT

Coming off three straight losses, including two in Chicago, the Twins return home Wednesday but will hardly have time to put their feet up and get comfortable.

In a Metrodome homestand that will last only about 36 hours, Minnesota will meet the Royals on Wednesday to begin a brief two-game series. The opener is at 7:10 p.m. CT with Thursday's game a 12:10 p.m. CT start before the club departs on another road trip through Detroit and Kansas City.

Johan Santana will start for the Twins on Wednesday against Royals right-hander Jose Lima.

Although he didn't have his sharpest stuff against Cleveland last Friday, Santana gave up two runs on six hits over six innings without a walk and struck out 10. He still extended his club record by notching his 16th consecutive win over his last 18 starts since last season's All-Star break.

In the 2004 season series vs. Kansas City, the Twins were 12-7, including 8-1 at home.

[Durango53]

Pitching matchup
MIN: LHP Johan Santanahttp://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/276371.jpg
• 3-0, 4.00 ERA in 2005
• 3-1, 2.45 ERA in 2004 vs. KC

KC RHP Jose Limahttp://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/117769.jpg
• 0-2, 8.56 ERA in 2005
• NR in 2004 vs. MIN

[Durango53]

Player to watch
Luis Rivas has had pretty good success against Lima during his career -- going 4-for-7 (.571) with one home run. Rivas has 12 lifetime home runs against Kansas City, which quadruples the next best total against any other club.

[Durango53]

Quotable
"When no one is hitting, that's when you start worrying." -- Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, on his club's poor situational hitting in the Chicago series

[Durango53]

Quick hits
Shannon Stewart has hit safely in 12 of 14 games this season. ... Jacque Jones has hit safely in 11 of 12 games. ... The Twins are 2-for-19 (.105) with the bases loaded this season, with five double plays.

[Durango53]

On television
• MIN: No TV
• KC: RTSN

On radio
• MIN: WCCO 830-AM
• KC: WHB 810-AM

[Timberwolf]

Twins have a quick two-game homestand before they go to Detroit for the weekend to play the Tigers. I am not even sure why there is a two game series with one team and then another two-game series with another team in the middle of the week. You normally see that during the interleague week not in April. That's strange.

Twins are coming off a frustrating loss to the She-ca-go Whiney Sux with runners left in stranded position two nights in a row. They better turn it around or else they could be in last place by the end of the week.

If they can't hit Royals pitching, just who they can hit. I hope the Royals can be the tonic to cure the Twins. Even if they sweep the Royals, all is not going to be well. They got lot of work to do.

Johan has a 16-game winning streak I believe. He has been great. He has been to even better. He has to throw a shutout though and then pray to God that they score at least 1 run because that's the only way the Twins are going to win tonight and with days to come.

IMO, Johan's winning streak going to end and I expect the Twins to lose tonight.

Lima vs. Cy-tana

[T-Wolves]

NO MORE DOUBLE PLAYS!!

God just no more double plays. The Sox had so many against us in those 2 games that the fans weren't even cheering after the 5th one.

[T-Wolves]

Nice homer by Joe Mauer!

Twins lead 1-0 going into the 2nd

[T-Wolves]

Anybody wanting to follow the game sense it isn't on TV can follow this link:

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/gamecenter/live/MLB_20050420_KC@MIN

[T-Wolves]

Thata boy Jacque, nice 2 run homer.
Torii Hunter Scores.
Jacque Jones Scores.

Twins lead 3-0 in the bottom of the 2nd with no outs.

[Timberwolf]

I got the Royals Sports Television Network on my MLB.TV feed tonight. I think it's amusing that FSN North can't air tonight's game as they are airing a meaningless basketball game between the Wolves and Spurs. The only bright spot to that basketball game is seeing Ebi played who played very well in his first game of the year Monday night @ New Orleans.

It's nice to see the good guys lead 3-0. It's even nice to score some runs.

[Timberwolf]

Royals are starting to hit Johan

Royals scored a run in the third

3-1 Good guys

[Timberwolf]

4-3 Bad guys.

Sweeney belted a three-run HR

[T-Wolves]

I got the Royals Sports Television Network on my MLB.TV feed tonight. I think it's amusing that FSN North can't air tonight's game as they are airing a meaningless basketball game between the Wolves and Spurs. The only bright spot to that basketball game is seeing Ebi played who played very well in his first game of the year Monday night @ New Orleans.

It's nice to see the good guys lead 3-0. It's even nice to score some runs.
You get on FSN North a lot about how they air meaningless games, but really all these games are pre scheduled at the beginning of the season.

[Durango53]

Just got back in and have the Rox game on. I will change it here in a few to hear how Joe and Jacque are doing but damm that SS for the Rox is having a hell of a year and tonight one hell of a game!!!!!!!

[Timberwolf]

Yeah, but Ch. 45 could have aired the Wolves game tonight. Normally Wednesday nights, FSN North always air the Twins games so they could have given a room for 45 to air that game when the schedule started last off-season.

[T-Wolves]

Still, it's the last game of the season and they probly thought this would be an important game for the Wolves.

[Timberwolf]

Rockies are still leading 2-1, right.

I saw that score in the Royals telecast.

I hope the Rox can start having a winning streak.

Good throw by Tifee and good catch by the firstbase man to get Brown out.

[Timberwolf]

Still, it's the last game of the season and they probly thought this would be an important game for the Wolves.

I was thinking that last game would have been an appetizer of what would be a great playoff run for the Timberwolves when the schedule came out last summer.

[Timberwolf]

Lecroy starts the fourth with a single and then Torii singled.

Let's hope we can get some runs here.

Runners at first and second

[Durango53]

Rox lead 6-2

[T-Wolves]

Bases loaded.
I better not see a double play here.

[Timberwolf]

Rox lead 6-2

Thanks for the good news.

What do you know another Double Play?

Lecroy is such a slow runner that he can't run home on a sac fly to tie the game.

UGH!

[T-Wolves]

Theres a double play to add to the 6 against the Sox in the last 2 games.

[Timberwolf]

CWS lead the Tigers 9-1 in the seventh.

At this point, we better hope Anaheim beats the Indians later tonight not to mention the Twins need to win here.

[Timberwolf]

BTW, congrats to Johan and his wife for having their second child this evening.

Johan is pitching with a very heavy heart tonight.

[Timberwolf]

Great catch by Shannon as he robs Dejesus of a base hit.

We are halfway through.

[T-Wolves]

I think it's safe to say that the Sox might actually be a force to recon with this year. As painful as that is. On a brighter note, congrats to Johan and his wife, and don't forget there new born son that they gave birth to this evening as Timberwolf just said.

[T-Wolves]

God, Another Double Play.

[Timberwolf]

What do you know? Another double play.

CWS are a good team, but I am so worried about the Twins. They are shooting themselves in the foot offensively. Tonight against KC is no different than what happened in the CWS series.

Cleveland is still a team to watch out. Their offense is not going to stink forever.

[T-Wolves]

I agree but Clevelands time isn't this year.

[Timberwolf]

Twins need to get their offense going in the sixth.

[T-Wolves]

They deffinetaly need some runs here soon.

[Timberwolf]

Torii got a 1-out double.

Jacques really needs to step up here.

[Timberwolf]

Bases loaded.

If the Twins get a DP here with 1 out, I will literally SCREAM at my workplace (I work at a library)

[T-Wolves]

LOL, I'll SCREAM at my....my....house.

[Timberwolf]

GAME TIED AT 4

Good job as Torii scored through sac fly.

[T-Wolves]

YES!!! no double play!!!

[Timberwolf]

Quick 7th inning for Johan.

Johan has been a bright spot for the Twins. He is pitching with a very heavy heart with him getting another baby tonight.

[Timberwolf]

Game summary so far:

Joe Mauer homered to give the Twins the lead 1-0

Jacques hit a two-run HR to give the good guys a 3-0 lead.

Unfortunately, that lead did not last long as the Royals starting hitting Johan good in the fourth inning with several singles which gave KC a one run. Then Mike Sweeney goes deep to give the Royals a 4-3 lead.

Twins had the bases loaded in the sixth inning, but finally someone drive Torii home through sac fly to give the good guys the tie.

Johan has pitched good tonight.

The story of this game is the lack of Twins offense. Twins could not catch in again with runners in scoring position as they were out through double play. It's been the story of this week.

[Timberwolf]

Another lack of offense in the eighth with two guys on base.

I am so tired of this crap.

FIRE ULLEGER!

[T-Wolves]

What the hell. Why would they take out Johan. He was playing a great game.

[Durango53]

Looks like the Twins tied up. 4-4

[Timberwolf]

What the hell. Why would they take out Johan. He was playing a great game.

He was throwing 100 or more pitches.

[T-Wolves]

He's still be pitching a great game with the exception of the 3rd inning.

[Timberwolf]

Good job by Juan.

Yeah it's a tie game at 4.

Let's score some runs.

[Timberwolf]

TWolves: I know, but you can't let a pitcher start throwing past 107 innings this early of the season. I wouldn't mind him going deep late in the year.

[T-Wolves]

I guess you got a point.

[Durango53]

Alright come on Mike!!! Lets eat steak!!!!!!!!!!

[Durango53]

I have to agree with you Les. You got a pitcher like Santana you got to keep him ready for the later part of the season.

[Durango53]

Twins lead!!!!!

We will see Joe in the 9th!!!!!!!!

[Timberwolf]

WOOHOO! Huge!

[T-Wolves]

Nice hit Stuart, hasn't had anything all night but he made it count this time.

[Durango53]

Lets put this and me to bed!!!

[Durango53]

Joe sitting them down!!!!!

[Durango53]

Good night Twins win.

[Timberwolf]

TWINS WIN! TWINS WIN! TWINS WIN!

Finally! It's about time that the Twins won. This is a game that they really needed to win or else be behind by 3 games and have the Indians on the Twins necks. With She-ca-go winning tonight and the Indians playing the Angels, they needed this win. They also needed this win to get out of their funk. Twins can not afford to have a long losing streak and be in the eight-hole early.

There were times I really wondered if the Twins were going to win this game with the Royals leading 4-3. Twins had men stranded in scoring position AGAIN tonight and they hit into double plays to end their threat. Fortunately, they came through in the eighth inning. Still it's not very good when you leave runners in scoring position that many times as you saw again for the third straight night. Twins let the Royals off the hook too many times tonight. The way they are hitting right now is just not acceptable in the major league level. Considering how bad the Royals pitching is, Twins should have blown out the Royals and make them pay out there very early. They almost blew it in the eighth inning. Thank God Shannon had a big base hit and a crucial RBI to give us the win.

Torii had a great game as he had three hits. Jacques Jones played well too.

Johan pitched with a very heavy heart tonight. His wife delievered a daughter as Johan and his family has their second child today. Congrats to Johan and his wife. He pitched pretty darn good outside of the third inning where he gave up couple of singles and then Sweeney belted it in the upper deck of left field. He did a good job. I am proud of him.

Juan was great in the eight.

The Nathanator did his job in the ninth.

This was a good win. Yeah it was a struggle to beat the Royals, but a win is a win. It's better option to losing.

With that said, Twins got long ways to go. Let's not fool ourselves that things are great.