Twins at Cardinals
Less than 19 hours after extending their winning streak in dramatic fashion, the St. Louis Cardinals vie for their sixth straight victory when they host the Minnesota Twins on Monday for the opener of their two-game interleague series. St. Louis was down to its last strike in the 14th inning late Sunday night when Dexter Fowler launched a two-run homer to give the club a 4-3 triumph over the Chicago Cubs.
Kolten Wong recorded three hits and an RBI while Jedd Gyorko went 2-for-5 with a solo homer as the Cardinals posted their second straight walk-off victory in extra innings. Minnesota seeks a season-high fourth consecutive victory after winning the final three contests of its four-game series against the White Sox in Chicago. Max Kepler snapped a tie with an RBI ground out in the eighth inning and Eddie Rosario belted a solo homer in the ninth to give the Twins a 5-3 triumph on Sunday - their fourth victory in five games following a stretch during which they lost 11 of 12. Logan Morrison delivered a two-run double on Sunday to finish the series 5-for-16 with two homers and five RBIs.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, FS North (Minnesota), FS Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Fernando Romero (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH John Gant (1-0, 0.00)
Romero was impressive in his major-league debut on Wednesday, scattering four hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the win against Toronto. The 23-year-old Dominican registered five strikeouts while issuing three walks and hitting a batter after being recalled from Triple-A Rochester earlier in the day. Romero made three starts and a relief appearance for the Red Wings, going 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 21 frames.
Gant will be recalled from Triple-A Memphis to start in place of the injured Adam Wainwright after making his season debut in relief on April 26, when he notched the victory after recording one strikeout in three perfect innings against the New York Mets. The 25-year-old Georgian has made nine starts in the major leagues - including two among seven overall appearances with the Cardinals last season when he went 0-1 with a 4.67 ERA. Gant has been superb for the Redbirds this year, going 4-0 with a 2.40 ERA in five starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rosario is riding a six-game hitting streak during which he is 13-for-30 with four homers and 12 RBIs.
2. The Cardinals placed C Yadier Molina (pelvis), who is expected to miss at least one month, and RHP Dominic Leone (arm) on the 10-day disabled list on Sunday and recalled C Carson Kelly and RHP Mike Mayers from Triple-A Memphis.
3. Minnesota INF Eduardo Escobar has gone 5-for-12 with two homers and four RBIs over his last three contests.