Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Kila Ka'aihue hit two home runs, finished with three hits and scored four times, as Kansas City waxed Minnesota, 10-1, for its second straight victory in the three-game series.
"I just think being patient more and making them come to me is helping me out the most," said Ka'aihue.
Sean O'Sullivan (4-6) picked up the victory, scattering five hits and just one run with one strikeout and six walks over six-plus frames. He was aided by an offensive outburst, as Mike Aviles finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Josh Fields hit a two-run home run for the Royals.
Nick Blackburn (10-11) was hit with the loss, giving up eight earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks over just 4 1/3 frames. Michael Cuddyer drove in the lone run for the Twins, who have lost five straight while playing out the string as American League Central champions.
"We are getting whacked around," stated Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. "These guys (the Royals) are swinging and having a ball. This trip has been like that. Every game."
The Royals began pounding out runs from the outset. Jarrod Dyson led off the home first with a walk, moved to second on Aviles' single then the duo pulled off a double steal in front of Ka'aihue's three-run shot to right.
Kansas City added two more runs in the second as back-to-back singles by Yuniesky Betancourt and Lucas May set the table. Betancourt moved to third on a fly out and scored on Dyson's grounder to second. He reached first on the force out, stole second and came around to score on Aviles' double.
Ka'aihue's second long ball of the game, a solo shot on a line to right, made the score 6-0 in the third before the Twins finally got on the scoreboard in the fifth. Denard Span and Orlando Hudson walked before Delmon Young grounded into a 1-4-3 double play. Cuddyer came through with the two-out, run- scoring single to center, cutting the deficit to 6-1.
The Royals responded with a two-spot in the home fifth as Aviles tripled and scored on a balk. Ka'aihue worked a one-out walk, moved to second on Fields' single, to third on a walk to Alex Gordon and scored when Betancourt grounded into a force out.
The game's final two runs came in the home seventh as Ka'aihue tripled in front of Fields' two-run shot to left.
Fields' home run was his third of the season, while Ka'aihue clubbed his sixth and seventh home runs...Aviles now has 15 doubles and three triples on the campaign...O'Sullivan gave up just the one run despite throwing 62 of his 114 pitches out of the strike zone...Minnesota still owns a commanding 12-5 edge in the season series.