Successful Sunday for Repko and other unheralded Twins

With many of the big names out of the lineup this weekend in Kansas City, the Twins have had to rely on players who don't always get the spotlight. Sunday was outfielder Jason Repko's turn. Repko entered Sunday's series finale with the Royals in the midst of a 0-for-14 slump. He spent time on the disabled list for a good part of May and hadn't recorded a hit since May 1. But Repko broke out of his slump in a big way, driving in three runs with a pair of hits in the Twins' 6-0 win, which clinched a four-game sweep of the Royals. "It was great. The last few days, I did get some at-bats in there," Repko said. "I think I was just pressing a little bit, trying to get hits too much, become a little hits-oriented. Today I just tried to go out there and have some quality ABs and luckily squeaked a few hits in there." Repko got his first hit -- and drove in his first two runs -- of the day with a single in the first, part of Minnesota's three-run inning. On a 1-1 pitch against Kansas City starter Jeff Francis, Repko lined the ball up the middle to drive in Alexi Casilla and Delmon Young to give the Twins a 3-0 lead. With one out in the top of the sixth, Repko gave the Twins and starter Brian Duensing an insurance run. Repko's single to left scored first baseman Luke Hughes from second base for a 4-0 lead. Playing time has been hard to come by for Repko this year. Signed by the Twins as a free agent prior to the 2010 season, Sunday marked Repko's 21st game this season, but just his 10th start. He's served as a utility outfielder for Minnesota, and on Sunday he played in right field, with Delmon Young in left and Ben Revere in center. Repko was placed on the disabled list on May 4 with a right quadriceps strain and was reinstated on May 22. Sunday was just his third start since coming off the DL, and his two singles were his first two hits since he was reinstated. After his two-hit, three-run performance Sunday, Repko said keeping it simple was the key. "Really, just trying not to worry about getting hits," he said. "I've been getting up there and I've been trying so hard just to get a hit. Today, I just worried about having good at-bats and letting everything take care of itself." "He gets a chance to play a couple in a row, and there you have it, he got a couple of big hits and drove in some runs. A really good day for him," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "I'm sure he feels a lot better about himself. It kind of goes with that saying, everybody likes to be a part of something, and that makes him feel probably like he's a part of something now. He got in there, got some hits and drove in some runs and was a part of a big win." Repko wasn't the only unheralded Twin finding success on Sunday. Shortstop Alexi Casilla stayed hot with a pair of hits, Hughes also had two hits and scored twice, and second baseman Matt Tolbert hit up a two-run triple in the ninth inning. "We have guys that can step it up in big roles," said Minnesota catcher Drew Butera, who was 1-for-4 and scored a run Sunday. "That's what the Twins pride themselves on is bringing guys up from the minor leagues that come on up and help us out."