(My Sportsbook) - Rick Reed tossed a three-hit shutout as the Minnesota Twins pounded the Kansas City Royals, 7-0, in the third of a four-game set at the Metrodome yesterday.

Reed (2-4) struck out two and walked one en route to his seventh career shutout. The 37-year-old righthander was making his return after missing his previous start with a lower back strain.

Corey Koskie belted a two-run homer and Doug Mientkiewicz ended 3-for-5 for the Twins, who have won three of four and eight of their last 10 contests.

Luis Rivas, Christian Guzman and Dustan Mohr each added two hits for the Twins. Guzman also belted his league-leading sixth triple of the year.

Mohr did a solid job filling in for leftfielder Jacque Jones, who is day-to- day with a strained quadriceps.

Lefthander Kenny Rogers gets the call for the Twins today against the surprise Royals, as he attempts to record his fifth victory of the year. In his last outing, Rogers was tagged for four earned runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings of work, but he managed to escape with a no-decision.

Rogers (4-1) has been able to post a career record of 12-11 against the Royals and has an ERA of 3.64. In 151 innings of work against Kansas City, he has amassed 82 strikeouts while surrendering 49 walks.