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      KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Brian Duensing pitched eight sharp
innings and Jason Repko snapped an 0-for-14 skid and drove in three
runs, giving the Minnesota Twins a 6-0 victory over the Kansas City
Royals on Sunday and their first four-game sweep in almost four
years.


      The four-game win streak is a season best for the Twins, who've
been struggling with eight players on the disabled list and were
missing two of their best players, Justin Morneau and Denard Span,
for the second day in a row.


      Duensing (3-5) gave up six hits with one walk and four
strikeouts in his longest outing of the season and avoided becoming
the first Twins starter in four years to lose six straight
decisions. The left-hander had five losses and two no-decisions
since beating Cleveland on April 23.


      He was replaced in the ninth by Matt Capps.


      Jeff Francis (2-6) was charged with four runs, one earned, while
pitching seven innings and giving up six hits. Matt Tolbert, who
had two doubles on Saturday night, had a two-run triple off Jesse
Chavez in the ninth.


      The Twins had not recorded a four-game sweep since winning four
in a row against Oakland from July 12-15, 2007. They had not swept
four from Kansas City since Aug. 3-6, 2006.


      The slumping Royals managed only six runs in the four games and
were shut out for the third time. They are 3-12 in their last 15
games.


      Repko's first hit in 15 at-bats drove in two runs as the Twins
took a 3-0 lead in the first inning with three unearned runs. Ben
Revere, on first with a leadoff single, sped to third when rookie
first baseman Eric Hosmer threw wildly to second on Alexi Casilla's
attempted sacrifice bunt.


      With runners at second and third, Michael Cuddyer popped out and
Danny Valencia walked, loading the bases. One run scored on Delmon
Young's fielder's choice grounder. Then Repko delivered a two-run
single right up the middle that was just barely out of second
baseman Mike Aviles' reach.


      Luke Hughes doubled off Francis in the sixth inning and scored
on Repko's RBI single.


      NOTES: Kansas City manager Ned Yost said Joakim Soria is close
to reclaiming his closer's role after two promising outings. ...
The Twins are hopeful RHP Nick Blackburn, who left Saturday's game
with a stiff back, won't miss his next start. ... Morneau was out
with a sore left wrist and Span was nursing a stiff neck. ...
Morneau's next game will be No. 1,000. ... Royals DH Billy Butler
was 3 for 3 with a walk and Hosmer had a single to run his hitting
streak to seven games.

Gallery

Sports

Brian Duensing pitched eight sharp
innings and Jason Repko snapped an 0-for-14 skid and drove in three
runs, giving the Minnesota Twins a 6-0 victory over the Kansas City
Royals on Sunday and their first four-game sweep in almost four
years.

Duensing, Repko lead Twins past Royals 6-0

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