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TOR@KC: Chen solid over seven frames, despite loss

This past week started with the Royals mired in what eventually ended up as a 12-game losing streak. By the time the week ended, though, seemingly the only thing that could keep Kansas City from another win was inclement weather.

Following Saturday afternoon's rainout in Minnesota, the Royals will again look to extend their winning streak to four games when they finish out the rain-shortened series with the Twins. Saturday's scheduled pitchers -- Bruce Chen for the Royals and Jason Marquis for the Twins -- will remain on the bump for Sunday's contest.

For Chen, the postponement forced him to wait at least one more day before notching his first win of the season. Despite allowing three or fewer runs in each of his first four starts, Chen remains winless as a result of some punchless offensive performances in his support.

Marquis, on the other hand, enters the game 1-0 in spite of his 7.15 ERA in his two starts -- one each against the Red Sox and Yankees. Marquis' lone win this season came in a 6-5 victory over the Yankees on April 18. The six runs of support match the amount scored by the Royals in Chen's four starts combined.

In fact, run support is one of the few things Twins manager Ron Gardenhire isn't concerned about when it comes to evaluating his club's league-worst 5-15 record.

"We're scoring six runs, we just have to pitch," Gardenhire said. "It all gets down to the pitching part. I know we haven't hit with men in scoring position, but we're still putting enough runs on the board to win ballgames."

Royals: Adcock recalled, Teaford optioned
Left-hander Everett Teaford was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Saturday following his four-inning spot start Friday in place of Danny Duffy. Kansas City recalled right-hander Nate Adcock from Omaha to fill the club's need for a long man in the bullpen.

Prior to Saturday's contest being postponed, manager Ned Yost joked about the overcast skies and the benefit that a postponement could have on his bullpen.

"Our pitching would be in great shape if we got rain today," he said. "We're a little pressed right now."

Teaford was 1-0 with a 5.73 ERA in three appearances. Adcock was 3-1 with a 1.37 ERA in four starts with Omaha.

Twins: Parmelee recovering from beaning
• Gardenhire said that first baseman Chris Parmelee is recovering well from being struck in the helmet with a fastball in Wednesday's game.

Parmelee was not scheduled to play Saturday prior to the rainout and likely won't be in Sunday's lineup either as a result of Chen's start being pushed back.

"Parmelee's OK," Gardenhire said before Saturday's postponement. "We're going to still back him up another day here. We've got a lefty going. I don't see any sense in it. He took a good whack. He's got a black eye. There was still a little swelling there. [Friday] they told me late in the game if I need him."

• Left fielder Josh Willingham was back with the club Saturday after missing the last two games to attend the birth of his son, Rogan Jaynes. Willingham was slotted to bat fourth prior to the rainout.

The 33-year-old is hitting .333 with five home runs and 13 RBIs in 19 games this season.

Worth noting
• The Royals haven't won the season series against the division-rival Twins since 2003 when they went 11-8. Minnesota is 93-55 in the head-to-head series since the start of the 2004 season.

• Kansas City is 6-4 on the road, but winless in 10 games at home.

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