Kansas City @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( Apr 16, 2010 ) Kansas City 3, Minnesota 10
The Minnesota Twins have shown that they are up to task no matter who the opposing pitcher.
On Friday, reigning American League Cy Young winner Zach Greinke was the latest victim of the Twins’ onslaught.
Minnesota dropped the right-hander to 0-2 on the season, while he allowed four runs -- two earned -- on six hits with five walks over six innings in an uncharacteristic start.
The Twins were paced Michael Cuddyer, who had a pair of hits and drove in three runs as they improved to 8-3 on the young season.
Cuddyer continued his tear from last year against the Royals, when he batted .294 with eight homers and 19 RBIs against the division rivals.
He now has hit safely in all but one game this season.
Minnesota will try to continue its hot ways against a pitcher that struggled mightily in his opening start. Gil Meche takes the hill for the Royals in the Saturday’s second game of the series.
Meche was roughed up for seven runs on seven hits with three walks in 3 1/3 innings against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, the same day he was activated from the 15-day disabled list.
In three starts last year against the Twins, the right-hander went 2-1 with a 5.29 ERA while allowing 10 runs on 20 hits in 17 innings.
Slated to toe the rubber for the Twins is Nick Blackburn, making his third start of the season. Blackburn is 1-1 with a 5.02 ERA to this point.
The right-hander didn’t fare well against the Royals a season ago. He made four starts, going 0-2 with a 4.57 ERA.
The Royals, who entered the series batting a league-leading .307, struggled to muster much offense against starter Scott Baker in Friday’s loss, with Yuniesky Betancourt’s three hits -- including a homer -- and two RBIs causing much of the damage.
Jose Guillen saw his four-game streak with a home run come to an end during the contest. He leads the club with five long balls and nine RBIs.