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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