Minnesota @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( May 28, 2016 ) Minnesota 6, Seattle 5

The Minnesota Twins look to complete their second series sweep of the season when they visit the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. Minnesota, which took three tightly contested games from the Los Angeles Angels from April 15-17, routed Seattle in the opener before posting a 6-5 triumph Saturday in which Miguel Sano extended his home-run streak to three games in the first inning and delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the seventh.

Joe Mauer has recorded four multi-hit performances during his five-game hitting streak and three straight two-hit efforts while going deep in each of the first two meetings with the Mariners. Seattle is hoping to avoid being swept for the third time this year after dropping three to Oakland in the first week of the season and the Angels in mid-May - both at home. The series with Los Angeles began the Mariners' current stretch during which they have lost six of eight at Safeco Field. Franklin Gutierrez continues to improve at the plate as he brings a five-game hitting streak into the series finale that has seen him go 7-for-17 and raise his average from .176 to .235.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), ROOT (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Ricky Nolasco (1-3, 5.54 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Taijuan Walker (2-4, 2.70)

Nolasco has been ineffective for much of the season, surrendering four or more runs in seven of his nine starts. The 33-year-old lasted only 2 2/3 innings in a loss to Kansas City on Monday as he was tagged for six runs on eight hits and two walks. Nolasco has yet to defeat Seattle, going 0-2 while yielding six runs over 12 frames in two career starts.

Walker lost his fourth consecutive decision Monday after giving up five runs - one earned - in 7 1/3 innings against Oakland. The 23-year-old native of Louisiana has surrendered a total of 19 runs in his last five outings, although eight of them were unearned, and has served up six homers in that span after allowing just one over his first four outings. Walker was outstanding in his lone career start against the Twins, striking out 11 while tossing a one-hitter at Minnesota on July 31, 2015.

WALK-OFFS

1. Sano leads the Twins with 10 home runs - seven of which he has hit in his last 15 games.

2. Seattle OF Nori Aoki is 3-for-8 with a homer and two RBIs in two contests while filling in for the injured Leonys Martin atop the batting order.

3. Minnesota C Kurt Suzuki is listed as day-to-day after exiting Saturday's game in the third inning with concussion-like symptoms.

PREDICTION: Mariners 9, Twins 3