Mays going for first win VS KC

[Durango53]

The Twins are 3-0 versus the Royals this season and will try to keep that unbeaten mark against their AL Central foes Wednesday night with right-hander Joe Mays on the mound.

Mays is 4-5 with a 4.21 ERA in 17 career games against Kansas City. The Twins are 1-1 in Mays' two starts this year.

Minnesota is hoping to build some momentum after snapping a two-game losing skid on Tuesday. While it's early, the Twins don't want to let the White Sox build up a big cushion in the AL Central.

The Royals will go with left-hander Brian Anderson, who was recently hit hard in a start at the Metrodome. Minnesota got to Anderson for 10 hits and eight runs (seven earned) in just three innings.

[Durango53]

GAME: Minnesota Twins (11-8) at Kansas City Royals (5-15).

TIME: Wednesday, 8:10 p.m. EDT.

Brian Anderson's new delivery was working just fine until he ran into the Minnesota Twins last Thursday.

The left-hander will try to bounce back from the dismal outing when the slumping Kansas City Royals resume a three-game series with the Twins at Kauffman Stadium.

Anderson, coming off a career-worst 6-12 campaign in 2004, spent the offseason and spring reworking his mechanics with pitching coach Guy Hansen. The extra effort appeared to be paying off when Anderson went 1-1 with a 3.95 ERA in his first two outings.

However, things unraveled quickly for the veteran southpaw Thursday as he was pounded for eight runs and 10 hits over only three innings in Kansas City's 10-9, 10-inning loss at Minnesota.

"It was a combination of not making some pitches and paying for it, and making some pitches, but a little bit of Murphy's Law taking over," Anderson said.

"Some of those balls had eyes and you saw some things that don't usually happen. Add it all up, and it ends up being a long day."

The Royals have dropped six in a row and nine of 10, including Tuesday's 2-1 setback to the Twins.

Minnesota ace Johan Santana won his 17th straight decision by pitching eight strong innings and Lew Ford delivered the go-ahead single in the top of the ninth for the three-time defending AL Central champions, who had lost five of seven.

Matt Diaz drove in the lone run for Kansas City, which owns the majors' worst record through 20 games.

[Durango53]

STANDINGS: Twins - 2nd place, 4 GB, AL Central. Royals - 5th place, 10½ GB, AL Central.

[Durango53]

TWINS PROBABLE STARTER: Joe Mays (0-0, 3.21 ERA). Mays had his scheduled start in Detroit over the weekend cancelled by snow, giving him nine days rest since pitching brilliantly in Minnesota's 2-1 loss at Cleveland on April 17. The right-hander allowed one run and five hits over seven innings, but did not receive a decision. Mays is 4-5 with a 4.21 ERA in 17 career appearances, including 11 starts, against the Royals.

MIN: RHP Joe Mayshttp://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/150222.jpg
• 0-0, 3.21 ERA in 2005
• 0-0, 0-0 ERA vs. Royals in 2005

KC: LHP Brian Andersonhttp://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/110230.jpg
•1-1, 7.02 ERA in 2005
• 0-0, 21.00 ERA vs. Twins in 2005


ROYALS PROBABLE STARTER: Anderson (1-1, 7.02 ERA). Anderson is 2-2 with a 5.63 ERA in 10 career appearances, including eight starts, against the Twins.

[Durango53]

OFFENSIVE LEADERS: Twins - Jacque Jones, .393 avg.; Torii Hunter, 4 HRs, 16 RBIs, 15 runs and 10 SBs. Royals - David DeJesus, .304 avg. and 11 runs; Emil Brown, 3 HRs; Mike Sweeney, 15 RBIs; Joe McEwing and Angel Berroa, 3 SBs.

[Durango53]

SEASON SERIES: Twins, 3-0.

[Durango53]

STREAKS AND NOTES: Twins - The results of an MRI exam on RHP Grant Balfour, on the DL with a right forearm strain, were inconclusive. He will go to Cincinnati for an exploratory arthroscopic procedure. ... LHP Santana is just three wins shy of Roger Clemens' AL record of 20 in a row. ... 1B-DH Matthew LeCroy is 7-for-12 (.583) with three homers and five RBIs in his career against LHP Anderson. Royals - Anderson is 7-9 with a 5.52 ERA in 27 career appearances, including 22 starts, at Kauffman Stadium. ... OF Terrence Long is 4-for-19 (.211) career against RHP Mays. ... 1B Sweeney is 8-for-29 (.276) with two homers and eight RBIs against Mays.

[Durango53]

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Twins - 5-6 on the road; Royals - 2-10 at home.

[Durango53]

Player to watch
First baseman Justin Morneau has hit in five straight games after going 2-for-4 on Tuesday. Morneau is hitting .474 over that five-game span.

[Durango53]

Quotable
"It was a good win and a good baseball game, too. Both starters pitched very well." -- Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, talking about his club's 2-1 win on Tuesday in a Johan Santana vs. Jose Lima pitching duel

[Durango53]

Quick hits
Santana has a 1.77 ERA over his last 20 starts. ... Right-handed closer Joe Nathan has yet to allow a run in 2005. He has worked 8 1/3 innings and has converted six out of six save opportunities. ... Tuesday's game marked the first time in the last 13 games that the Twins did not allow a home run.

[Durango53]

On television
• MIN: FSNN
• KC: RSTN

On radio
• MIN: WCCO
• KC: WHB-810

[SlushyBOB]

Go Mays!!!!! (He's on my fantasy baseball team!)

[Durango53]

We will take all the cheering we can get Bob!!!!!!

[Timberwolf]

Twins will go for a two-game winning streak this evening against K.C. This is a game that they have to win IMO. As much as I like K.C, I sure as hell don't want to see the Twins snap the Royals losing streak. Twins need these guys.

Joe Mays has been good so far and he has to keep it up. I hope he performs very well.

Mays vs. Anderson

[Durango53]

Man Mays has been doing great before the 6th. To bad I hope he can get though the 6th and the Twins can get him a run and pull out a win.

[Durango53]

Man Mays has been doing great before the 6th. To bad I hope he can get though the 6th and the Twins can get him a run and pull out a win.
And that is what the Twins do!!!!!!!

Scoring some runs tonight!!!!!!!!! 7-4 Twins!!!!!!! :banana: :banana: :banana:

[Durango53]

KC needs a big inning to come back in this one and I dont see that happening with there offense and the Twins bullpen.

Timber gets on them about the offense and the Twins blow up with runs :D

Great game for the Twins and should be a win for Mays who had a good game but the end of the 6th.

[Durango53]

TWINS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mays gets win last win was in 2003. Way to go Mays. First of many I hope!!!!!!!

[curt4074]

I'm glad Mays is successful...and at the Rate we have payed him the last 3 years, for the production... he OWES us a cheap contract....

[Durango53]

Ya that was a tough go on that one. Get a nice contract and then hurt for most of it. I like Mays and think he is a hell of a pitcher and I hope he will give the Twins a break (I know he wont because how many players do these days?) But I hope he has a great year for the Twins and give them that solid 4th starter to help them get to the playoffs and though the playoffs.

[Timberwolf]

Great win tonight. Twins beat the Royals 9-4 this evening in Kansas City. It's their second win in a row and their fifth win in a row against the Royals. Twins have yet to lose this year to the Royals.

The offense was great tonight. It was great to see the hitters do their thing in the third inning and then again in the seventh inning when the game was tied at 4. Twins got the big base hit with runners in scoring position when they had to. I like that and I hope this is a sign of things to come.

I thought Nick Punto had a great game. He has had a great series. Hopefully, he will keep this up.

Jason Bartlett had a great game.

Congrats to Joe Mays in getting his first win. He deserves it. He was good tonight despite the sixth inning. I am really happy for Joe. Joe has put in the time in his rehab and it's great to see him reap his rewards.

Jesse was great in the seventh.

J.C. pitched good in the eighth.

TM finished it off.

Great win. I hope we can get the sweep tommorow. It's also nice to see CWS LOSE AGAIN! Three out for first place. Life is good.

[Durango53]

The Sox look like the Twins now where they cant get runners in. Dont worry the Twins and Sox are going to be fighting for some time. When the Big Whine comes back I see the Sox falling down.

[SlushyBOB]

Yea for the Twins, Mays, and my fantasy baseball team.

[Durango53]

Got to love it when all three of those fall together huh!!!!!!!!! :D

[SlushyBOB]

oh yeah!!!!!!