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Veteran excited over opportunity in Kansas City

Jeremy Guthrie is hoping his new beginning with the Royals goes a lot better than his last start with the Rockies.

The right-hander, acquired by Kansas City on Friday, started for the final time at Coors Field on Wednesday and was rocked by the Pirates for four runs in 2 2/3 innings, while blowing the Rockies' 5-1 lead.

His 15th start of the year was a microcosm of his entire season. Guthrie posted a 6.34 ERA in 90 2/3 innings, and was even worse at Coors Field, where he gave up 14 homers with a 9.50 ERA.

The Royals hope Guthrie will feel more comfortable in the American League, where he once pitched for the Orioles. Guthrie is 2-1 in his career at Kauffman Stadium and will make his Royals debut in the rubber game against the Twins on Sunday.

"It's a great opportunity," Guthrie said. "It's a place where if I could choose a place to be, this would certainly be at the top of the list. Great young team with all the potential in the world, and I'm happy to be a part of it."

Guthrie went 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA in two starts against the Twins in 2011 and owns a career 4-1 record against them.

"You get a chance to pitch a lot against teams from different divisions when you're in the league for five years, like I was with Baltimore," Guthrie said. "[The Twins have] familiar hitters, and we'll go out there and see what we can do."

The Twins will give the ball to righty Sam Deduno (0-0), who yielded three earned runs on six hits and five walks in 4 1/3 innings against Baltimore on Tuesday, his second Major League start.

Royals: Gordon settling into leadoff role
• Since assuming the leadoff spot on May 27, Alex Gordon is hitting .352 with 16 RBIs and 25 walks.

"Anytime you're in a certain spot and you're stuck there for a while, you kind of get comfortable," Gordon said. "That's just kind of how it's been lately."

Gordon went 3-for-5 with an RBI on Saturday.

Twins: Morneau placed on paternity leave
• The Twins placed first baseman Justin Morneau on the paternity list Saturday after his wife, Krista, gave birth to the couple's second child, a boy. Morneau has a maximum of three days to be away from the team.

In a corresponding move, the Twins recalled Chris Parmelee from Triple-A Rochester.

Worth noting
• In his 14th game of the year, Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, his second three-hit game of the season and his third career game with three RBIs.

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