twins/mlb

Jason Bartlett had five of the Twins' 22 hits Sunday.A SERIES OF NUMBERS

The Twins' sweep of Kansas City was chock-full of numbers:

4

Games swept by the Twins in the series -- a first for Minnesota in Kansas City.

22

Minnesota hits Sunday -- the most in a game this season.

9

Combined hits for No. 8 and No. 9 hitters Jason Tyner and Jason Bartlett on Sunday.

36

Walks issued by Kansas City pitchers to Twins in the series.

WILD CARD

Chicago --

Twins ½

Boston ½

KANSAS CITY, MO. - As the temperature climbed to 105 degrees Sunday at Kauffman Stadium, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire had one basic concern about his red-hot offense: overheating.

Gardenhire hated watching his hitters wilt in the sun while minor-league journeyman Mike Smith exhausted 80 pitches through the first three innings against the Royals.

So the manager turned things over to his ever-efficient bullpen, and the Big Road Machine kept rolling for an 11-5 victory that gave the Twins their first four-game sweep at Kansas City in club history.

Minnesota matched a franchise record with its eighth consecutive road victory and pulled within a half-game of the White Sox for the American League wild-card lead.