Royals at Twins (Game 1)
The Kansas City Royals are a big reason why the Minnesota Twins find themselves atop the American League Central in 2017, and the Twins' most recent victory in this rivalry may be just the lift they needed to catch some fire at home. Following its third home postponement of the season Saturday, Minnesota eyes an eighth straight victory against Kansas City in the first game of a straight doubleheader on Sunday.
The Twins improved to 6-0 against the Royals this season courtesy of Friday's 4-3, 10-inning triumph, as pinch hitter Kennys Vargas belted a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth inning and Jorge Polanco ended it with a sacrifice fly in the 10th. Minnesota improved to 10-12 at home as a result to tie a club record for its longest winning streak against the Royals and further distance itself from the team it went 4-15 against a season ago. The Twins' 10th comeback victory of the season overshadowed one of the best performances in Jorge Bonifacio's young career, as the rookie outfielder hit a two-run homer, had an outfield assist and made a jumping catch at the wall to rob Brian Dozier of an extra-base hit. The loss dropped the Royals to 3-13 against division rivals.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FSN Kansas City, FSN North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Chris Young (0-3, 7.27 ERA) vs. Twins RH Phil Hughes (4-2, 5.23)
Young struggled for a second straight start last Sunday against Baltimore, surrendering five runs on six hits - including a pair of home runs - over 3 2/3 innings. In 15 starts since the beginning of last season, the 37-year-old Princeton alum is 1-8 with an 8.74 ERA, allowing 55 runs on 80 hits - including 29 home runs - in 56 2/3 frames. Dozier is 2-for-20 with a homer and Joe Mauer is 5-for-22 against Young, who is 2-3 in 15 appearances (nine starts) versus the Twins despite a 2.27 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.
Hughes won four of his five starts in April before opening May with a pair of no-decisions prior to Tuesday's loss to Colorado in which he gave up a season-high five earned runs in five frames. The 2010 All-Star, who has struggled with his changeup command over his last two outings according to manager Paul Molitor, is 0-2 with 6.00 ERA in three home turns. Hughes is 8-5 with a 5.01 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) versus the Royals, including his last victory on April 30 when he yielded four runs and 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mauer needs to score one more run to tie Kent Hrbek (903) for the fourth on the club's all-time list (since 1961).
2. Kansas City SS Alcides Escobar will break Paul Schaal’s team record of 212 straight starts if he appears in the lineup for Sunday's first game
3. Minnesota 3B Miguel Sano went 2-for-4 in the opener to maintain his .500 batting average against Kansas City in 2017. Fourteen of Sano's 30 RBIs this season have come against the Royals.