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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- It has not been a smooth rookie season for right-hander Jose Berrios, the Minnesota Twins top pitching prospect.Berrios, who turned 22 in May, starts Friday against the defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals.Berrios has not pitched since Aug. 11 when he yielded six runs (five earned) and eight hits in two innings in a loss to Houston.The last outing was not very well, Berrios said Thursday on the eve of his eighth career start.In the extra time between starts, he has been working with pitching coach Neil Allen and bullpen coach Eddie Guardado.They helped me a lot, Berrios said We throw sides the past ten days, so, we do a couple of adjustments, (on the) release point and rhythm, and so I think Ill be prepared for tomorrow.In his past two starts -- both defeats, Berrios surrendered 10 runs, 14 hits and two walks while striking out five in seven innings.Those two starts ballooned Berrios ERA to 9.32 in 28 innings. Batters are hitting .331 off him with a .410 on-base percentage, a .593 slugging percentage and a 1.004 OPS.Berrios, a 2012 first-round draft pick out of Puerto Rico, started for the World Team in the 2014-15 Futures Games, pitching a scoreless inning in each. He made four early starts for the Twins, but was demoted after retiring only two Tigers and giving up seven runs May 16.Berrios pitched well for Triple-A Rochester, 10-5 with a 2.44 ERA, earning an Aug. 1 recall. There is a learning curve for most rookies, even one as talented as Berrios that the Twins hope to build future rotations around.Now, I can learn every day and everybody here tries to help me, Berrios said. But its my first year. I have the ability. A couple of the outings have been rough, but I learn from that. I do adjustments. I keep the good things and the bad things I try to dont do it again. Thats what I do right now, learn about that.Veteran Royals right-hander Edison Volquez, who starts Friday, has a 2/3 record in his previous nine starts, but has pitched at least six innings in eight of them. Volquez is 6-3 with a 4.04 ERA at home this season.Volquez has a successful history against the Twins, a 5-1 record with a 2.29 ERA in eight career starts and one relief appearance. Volquez is 2-0 with a 2.95 ERA in three starts against them this season, allowing six earned runs in 18 1/3 innings.The Royals rotation has a 1.61 ERA in a five-game winning streak. Pitching can be contagious, said right-hander Dillon Gee, who allowed one run over seven innings Thursday in the 8-1 victory over the Twins.I think so, Gee said. I think energy alone is contagious. I think guys feed off each other. Good results tend to feed down. You watch those guys go out and there and put up the games theyve been putting up. It makes me want to do the same thing and provide for this team like they are.The only run off Gee was a leadoff home run to Brian Dozier.You just cant make mistakes to that guy, especially heaters up in the zone, Gee said. I was glad I could come back and settle down after that.With the club over .500 for the first time since July 22, Gee senses the club kicking into a higher gear to make a bid to return to postseason.Were having a lot of fun right now, he said. The guys on the bench are having a blast and keeping it loose. Guys are just having a good time out there and the results are starting to show the way weve been playing. Discount NCAA Jerseys . The visitors took a deserved lead in the 16th minute with midfielder Yohan Cabaye curling the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area. College Jerseys Outlet .ca. Kerry, Just watched the shootout in the Coyotes/Leafs game and I have to ask, why was the James van Riemsdyk goal allowed to count? All of the video replays we were shown on TV were inconclusive about whether the puck had entirely crossed the line or not. http://www.cheapcollegejerseys.net/ . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said. Cheap College Jerseys . Clarkson had been dealing with an elbow injury in early January and will be out of action for at least one week. He has three goals and five assists through 36 games with the Leafs this season. Cheap Jerseys From China . But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in football after officially calling it quits Tuesday. "Id love to look at those opportunities as they arise," Pierce said in an interview from his Winnipeg eatery.Jackson Bird starred with the ball as Australia closed on a 2-0 Test series victory over New Zealand on day four at Christchurch. Bird took five wickets to help dismiss the hosts for 335 in their second innings and leave Australia needing 201 for a win that would see top the ICC Test rankings. And they closed the day 70-1 - David Warner the only wicket to fall when he was caught down the leg side on review by BJ Watling from Neil Wagner for 22. Australias Jackson Bird took five wickets as New Zealand were dismissed for 335 in their second innings Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja are the two batsmen at the crease, with Burns 27no and Khawaja 19no, and the tourists needing another 131 for the win.New Zealand, who lost the opening Test in Wellington last week by an innings and 52 runs, began the day 121-4 and enjoyed a profitable morning as Kane Williamson and Corey Anderson added 86 to their total in a heated session which saw Australia drop two catches, have two reviews turned down and an lbw decision overturned. The second review, just before lunch and against Williamson, prompted a petulant outburst from captain Steve Smith and bowler Josh Hazlewood, with the paceman later pleading guilty to a charge of dissent for his expletive-filled rant. The 25-year-old is likely to be fined by the ICC.The 102-run stand was ended shortly after when Anderson was bowled by Bird for 40 and the paceman had his second three runs later when he repeated the feat on Williamson, who fell three short of his century.That left New Zealand 210-6, which became 210-7 when Tim Southee was caught by Smith to give Bird his third victim, only for a quickfire 118-run eighth-wicket stand between BJ Watling and Matt Henry to frustrate Australia. Josh Hazlewood (centre) reacted angrily when Kane Williaamson was given not out on review Watling was eventually caught for 46 off James Pattinson with Henry following soon after - his 93-ball 66 brought to an end by the returning Bird.ddddddddddddThe 29-year-old pace bowler then completed his five-wicket haul when Pattinson caught last man Trent Boult without scoring - Bird finishing with 5-59. New Zealands Matt Henry frustrated Australia with a 93-ball 66 on day four in Christchurch It was nice to take some wickets when the team needed it after lunch but I feel like Ive been pretty inconsistent with the way Ive bowled in the series which is disappointing, said Bird. But it was nice... to put us in a pretty good position to win the game tomorrow and win the series. Australia bowler Josh Hazlewood has been charged with dissent after swearing at the umpire during the Test match against New Zealand Anderson said New Zealand still had hope of securing an unlikely win, adding: Any total youre going to have to chase in the fourth innings is always going to be a tough total regardless of what it is. It would have been nice to get a couple more poles (wickets) this evening. Hopefully tomorrow we can go bang bang and then potentially run through them.Watch the fifth and final day of the second Test live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 9.30pm on Tuesday. ' ' '