MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Alex Gordon and Billy Butler each hit a two-run homer and the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 7-6 on Friday night for their third straight win.
Mike Moustakas delivered the go-ahead single in the eighth inning and Alcides Escobar added an RBI single three batters later for Kansas City.
Trevor Plouffe homered for the Twins. Alexi Casilla had two hits and two RBIs, but Minnesota again struggled with runners in scoring position and dropped below the Royals for the worst record in baseball.
Jonathan Broxton struck out Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau for his third save in four chances.
Gordon gave the Royals an early lead with a 439-foot drive off Carl Pavano in the first. Butler’s homer in the third made it 4-3 Kansas City.
NOTES: Royals recalled outfielder Jarrod Dyson and optioned outfielder Jason Bourgeois to Triple-A Omaha on Friday… Dyson, who hit .333 and stole seven bases in 15 games with Omaha, was leading off for the Royals against the Minnesota Twins. He spent April 13-14 with the big-league club and went 2-for-8… Bourgeois was acquired from Houston during spring training and went 3-for-14 in seven games.
