Twins Vs. Cubs Final Score: Minnesota Toppled By Chicago In Series Finale, 8-2

It was nice while it lasted, but the Minnesota Twins' four-game win streak is now a thing of the past after strong performance by Chicago pitcher Ryan Dempster powered the Cubs to an 8-2 victory in Sunday's series finale.

The Twins could only produce a measly four hits against the veteran Dempster, who went eight clean innings with six strikeouts to drop his season ERA down to 2.32. Dempster's opposition to begin the afternoon, Minnesota lefty Francisco Liriano, fell to 1-7 on the year with the loss despite a promising start that seems to bode well for his continued stay in the rotation.

It looked like a pitcher's duel for the initial five innings as only one total run had crossed the plate, but a wild sixth frame from Liriano plated three Cubs runners to extend the lead to 4-0 and chase him from the mound. From then on there was nothing the Twins could do offensively to beat the red-hot Dempster, as multiple attempts to produce runs down the stretch proved futile. Worse yet, designated hitter Joe Mauer followed up his huge 3-for-4 performance on Saturday with an 0-for-4 game that included three strikeouts in the loss to Dempster and the Cubs.

Next up for the Twins is another tough interleague tilt at home, as the Philadelphia Phillies and their ace pitching staff will come to Target Field for a three-game set that starts on Tuesday.

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Twins Vs. Cubs: Starting Lineups For Sunday's Series Finale

The Minnesota Twins will go for an impressive sweep of the Chicago Cubs on Sunday afternoon, as the two teams will wrap up their three-game interleague series at Target Field.

With 19 runs scored over the first two games of the series, the Twins continue their torrid pace from the plate in the month of June. Now winners of nine of their previous 11 contests, they are now just 8.5 games off the pace in the AL Central, and could somehow wind up within striking distance if they can keep it up.

The Twins will give the ball to former ace Francisco Liriano for Sunday's finale, in an obvious vote of confidence from manager Ron Gardenhire after the lefty hurler was banished to the bullpen earlier in the year for erratic play. Liriano remains just 1-6 on the season with a 6.46 ERA, but seemed to settle down a bit in a measured bullpen role. Liriano will face off against Chicago's veteran strikeout artist Ryan Dempster.

Here are the starting lineups for Sunday's game:

Twins

1. Denard Span - CF

2. Ben Revere - RF

3. Joe Mauer - DH

4. Josh Willingham - LF

5. Justin Morneau - 1B

6. Trevor Plouffe - 3B

7. Brian Dozier - SS

8. Drew Butera - C

9. Jamey Carroll - 2B

Francisco Liriano - SP

Cubs

1. Reed Johnson - LF

2. Starlin Castro - SS

3. David DeJesus - RF

4. Alfonso Soriano - DH

5. Jeff Baker - 1B

6. Joe Mather - CF

7. Darwin Barney - 2B

8. Ian Stewart - 3B

9. Koyie Hill - C

Ryan Dempster - SP

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Twins Vs. Cubs: Minnesota Looks To Complete Interleague Sweep Of Chicago

The Minnesota Twins will look to improve their winning streak to five games while completing a weekend sweep of the Chicago cubs when the two teams finish their three-game intereleague series on Sunday afternoon.

Third baseman Trevor Plouffe had a home run and double to knock in four runs as part of 16-hit offensive attack by the Twins in their 11-3 win on Saturday. Minnesota will try to keep the power on against Chicago on Sunday when they face Ryan Dempster (1-3, 2.59 ERA). The veteran right-hander has had some tough-luck starts this season with little run support, but he is coming off an impressive start in his last outing. Dempster shut out Milwaukee to earn his only win so far this season, allowing just three hits over seven innings.

Minnesota will try to keep rolling behind resurgent left-hander Francisco Liriano (1-6, 6.46 ERA). After starting the season 0-5 and moving to the bullpen, Lirano is 1-1 since re-joining the rotation and has given up just one run in his last 12 innings on the hill.

The game is scheduled to start at 1:15 p.m. CT and will be televised on Fox Sports North.

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Twins Vs. Cubs Final Score: Minnesota Dominates In 11-3 Game Two Victory

The Minnesota Twins kept up the run production from game one against the Chicago Cubs in game two, but their opponents weren't quite as able. Game one saw an 8-7 victory in favor of the Twins in the 10th inning, but game two was a blowout, with Minnesota guaranteeing a series victory on the back of their 11-3 win.

Scott Diamond moved to 5-1 on the season with six innings of seven-hit ball with no walks and no runs allowed. He also struck out five and boasts a 1.61 earned run average on the season after this quality start. Jeff Manship came in to pitch the ninth inning and was given a save for his efforts. Jeff Gray gave up the three runs to the Cubs in innings seven and eight.

Trevor Plouffe had four runs on the day. His first came in the second inning when he grounded out to third and scored Josh Willingham. His second and third runs came in the fourth when he hit a ground rule double to deep cente, scoring Justin Morneau and Ryan Doumit. His fourth and final run came in a solo homerun to centerfield in the fifth inning. Joe Mauer had three hits on the day and two runs batted in as well.

They'll play game three on Sunday as the Cubs try and avoid the sweep. The start time is 2:10 p.m. eastern.

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Twins Vs. Cubs Score Update: 6-Run Fourth Inning Boosts Minnesota To 8-0 Early Lead

The Minnesota Twins are following up their Friday night walk off win with a hit parade on Saturday and lead the Chicago Cubs 8-0 after just four innings.

The Twins banged out nine hits against Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija, chasing him from the game after 3.2 innings with a 7-0 lead. The Twins added one more on a Joe Mauer double off reliever Casey Coleman to put the lead to 8-0, all runs charged to Samardzija. Seven of those hits and six runs came in the fourth inning in which the Twins batted around.

The M&M brothers, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, each have two hits for the Twins. Every Twin except for Jamey Carroll has a hit and every single batter in the lineup has been on base.

Meanwhile, on the mound, Scott Diamond continues to pitch well. He has scattered five hits in five innings and has four strike outs opposite zero walks.

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Ricky Rubio Hanging Out At Twins Game Again

Twins Vs. Cubs: Lineups For Saturday's Game

After walking off with a win on Friday night, their eighth win in their last ten games, the Minnesota Twins will face Jeff Samardzija on Saturday afternoon in the second of a three-game interleague set. The Twins will counter Samardzija with Scott Diamond, who has a 2.27 ERA in his last five starts while displaying impeccable command (just three walks in 31-plus innings).

Below are the lineups for Saturday's matinee.

Twins:

1. Denard Span (L) CF

2. Ben Revere (L) RF

3. Joe Mauer (L) C

4. Josh Willingham (R) LF

5. Justin Morneau (L) 1B

6. Ryan Doumit (S) DH

7. Trevor Plouffe (R) 3B

8. Brian Dozier (R) SS

9. Jamey Carroll (R) 2B

Cubs lineup

1. Reed Johnson (R) LF

2. Starlin Castro (R) SS

3. David DeJesus (L) RF

4. Alfonso Soriano (R) DH

5. Jeff Baker (R) 1B

6. Joe Mather (R) CF

7. Steve Clevenger (L) C

8. Darwin Barney (R) 2B

9. Ian Stewart (L) 3B

For more on the Twins, check out Twinkie Town. For more Cubs coverage, head over toBleed Cubbie Blue. For more MLB news and analysis, be sure to visit Baseball Nation.

Twins Vs. Cubs: Minnesota Looks For Back-To-Back Wins Over Cubs

The Minnesota Twins will look to continue winning in their series against the Chicago Cubs after taking game one 8-7 in 10 innings. Minnesota is at the bottom of the AL Central, but they've won eight of their last ten and are facing a struggling Cubs team.

Scott Diamond (4-1 1.86 ERA) will take the hill for Minnesota, facing Jeff Samardzija (5-3, 3.13 ERA) for Chicago. The Twins' left-hander was feeling good about his chances, according to what he told the official Twins website:

"I think that little taste that I got last year really helped me feel a lot more comfortable coming around this time," Diamond said. "I know a lot of guys in this locker room and everything. It's been a lot easier to make that transition."

Also worth noting from the Twins website is that Joe Mauer may make his return from a sprained thumb on Saturday. The Twins Game two of the series is in Minnesota and is scheduled for 1:10pm CDT (2:10pm EDT).

Stick with this storystream for updates, scores and more from the Twins versus Cubs interleague series. For all things Minnesota Twins, head over to Twinkie Town. If the Chicago Cubs are your team, check out Bleed Cubbie Blue. For all your other MLB needs, SB Nation's dedicated MLB hub has you covered. And don't miss SB Nation on YouTube:

Twins Vs. Cubs: Minnesota Welcomes NL Visitors With 8-7 Win In 10 Innings

For decades, if not more, Chicago residents have piled in their cars and headed to the lakes of Minnesota for a getaway. The Chicago Cubs did not find the environs of Target Field to be quite so welcoming. The Minnesota Twins gave their National League visitors an 8-7 loss with a Josh Willingham RBI single in the bottom of the tenth, for a win in the opening game of their weekend series.

PJ Walters gave up five runs in five innings, putting the Twins in a 5-3 hole. Brian Dozier singled in a run in the sixth, and Darin Mastroianni sent him home with a triple to tie the game. Ryan Doumit homered in the seventh inning to expand the lead.

In eighth inning, Alfonso Soriano took Glenn Perkins deep over the left field wall for a two-run homer to give the Cubs a one-run lead. Justin Morneau tied it again in the ninth with a triple to score Willingham. That one came against Shawn Camp, along with Willingham's game-winner, a single to left.

It was the second win in a row for the Twins and their fifth win of seven games in the month of June. They resume play against the Cubs on Saturday at 1:10 p.m. Central.

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Twins Vs. Cubs Starting Lineups: Joe Mauer, Denard Span Not In Friday's Lineup

The Minnesota Twins will be without a pair of their most vital two-way players to kick off a weekend series with the Cubs on Friday, as catcher Joe Mauer and outfielder Denard Span have each been held out of the lineup.

Mauer is still nursing a thumb injury and will miss his fourth consecutive game. Span, who sat out Thursday's win due to a hitting cold streak, remains on an 0-for-14 skid from the plate and was given yet another day off by manager Ron Gardenhire. With Ben Revere assuming Span's spot in center, reserve Darin Mastroianni will bat eighth and play right field. Mastroianni is hitting just .152 over 14 games with the Twins, but has recorded hits in each of his last two games (both starts).

Here are Friday's starting lineups:

Twins

1. Ben Revere- CF

2. Jamey Carroll - 2B

3. Josh Willingham - LF

4. Justin Morneau - DH

5. Ryan Doumit - C

6. Chris Parmelee - 1B

7. Trevor Plouffe - 3B

8. Brian Dozier - SS

9. Darin Mastroianni - RF

P.J. Walters - SP

Cubs

1. Reed Johnson - LF

2. Starlin Castro - SS

3. David DeJesus - RF

4. Alfonso Soriano - DH

5. Bryan LaHair - 1B

6. Joe Mather - CF

7. Steve Clevenger - C

8. Darwin Barney - 2B

9. Ian Stewart - 3B

Travis Wood - SP

For more on the Twins, check out Twinkie Town. For more Cubs coverage, head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more MLB news and analysis, be sure to visit Baseball Nation.

Twins Interleague Play: Scouting the Cubs' Probable Pitchers

As the Twins kick off interleague play, they welcome the Chicago Cubs to Target Field. Which starters are they sending to the hill?

Twins Vs. Cubs: Chicago Visits Minnesota In Interleague Play

The Chicago Cubs will travel to Minnesota to face the Twins in Interleague play starting on Friday.