Mays Doing His Part

Joe Mays is just trying to keep up with the Radkes and the Miltons.

Mays became the Minnesota Twins’ third five-game winner, giving up six hits in eight innings Monday night to lead the American League Central leaders to a 3-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

Mays (5-2), who struck out a season-high six batters and walked two, joined Brad Radke (6-1) and Eric Milton (5-2) to give the Twins three of the seven American League pitchers with five victories.

The trio also ranks among the league’s top five in earned-run average. Mays (2.31) is second to Pedro Martinez of the Boston Red Sox (1.74). Milton is third at 2.48 and Radke is fifth at 2.80.

“Who could have imagined that?” Mays said. “Who could imagine three Minnesota Twins would be among the top five in ERA? You would never have fathomed it would happen. I know it’s above and beyond what I expected.”

Mays has given up only one run in each of his last three starts, although Manager Tom Kelly pulled him with one out in the sixth inning of a 2-0 loss to the New York Yankees last Wednesday at New York.

Doug Mientkiewicz homered for the Twins, at 26-10 off to the franchise’s best start since the 1930 Washington Senators. The Twins increased their lead to 1 1/2 games over the idle Cleveland Indians.