KANSAS CITY (AP) - Lorenzo Cain hit a two-run homer during a four-run eighth inning and the Kansas City Royals rallied for a 7-3 victory against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night.
The Royals won back-to-back games for the first time since May 4-5 thanks to an offense that produced as many runs in the eighth as it had in any of its last 14 games. Their seven runs total was their most since beating the Astros by the same score May 21.
Wade Davis allowed three unearned runs before the Royals bullpen took control. Luke Hochevar, Tim Collins (2-1) and Greg Holland combined for four scoreless innings to wrap up the win.
All the runs in the eighth came off Jared Burton (0-3), who allowed Eric Hosmer's go-ahead single and an RBI double by Billy Butler before serving up Cain's homer to left field.
After ending a franchise-record 11-game home losing streak Wednesday night, the Royals wound up winning their first series since taking two of three from the Angels in mid-May.
The Twins had won eight of 10 before dropping two straight.
Things began well enough for Minnesota when Jamey Carroll led off the game with a grounder that third baseman Mike Moustakas fielded cleanly and then threw over the head of Hosmer at first base for an error. Carroll ended up on second, and eventually reached third on a groundout.
The errors were only beginning for Kansas City.
Josh Willingham proceeded to strike out on a wild pitch that not only allowed him to reach base but also allowed Carroll to score. Two batters later, Ryan Doumit went deep for the second time in the series to give the Twins a 3-0 lead - all on one hit.
The Royals scratched away to get two back in the second inning.
Butler, Moustakas and Cain hit consecutive singles to start the inning, and after David Lough grounded into a forceout at home, Chris Getz delivered a clutch two-run single to left.
The Royals finally tied it in the sixth when Hosmer doubled and Perez drove him home, and that kept both starting pitchers from factoring in the decision.
The Twins' Mike Pelfrey, whom the Royals tagged for six runs in two innings in April, went a season-best 6 1/3 on Thursday night. He allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk.
Davis needed 107 pitches to get through five innings for Kansas City, thanks in part to his shaky defense. He allowed four hits and three walks, but all three runs off him were unearned.
It was the first time he hadn't allowed an earned run in a start since April 17.
Notes: The Royals claimed 3B/OF Edinson Rincon off waivers from San Diego and optioned him to Double-A Northwest Arkansas. They also sent OF Jarrod Dyson (right ankle sprain) on a rehab trip to Triple-A Omaha. ... The Twins head to Washington for the first time under manager Ron Gardenhire, though he pointed out he's been there before. He visited the White House after the 1991 Twins won the World Series. RHP Kevin Correia pitches the opener against the Nationals tonight. ... RHP James Shields will start tonight for Kansas City against Houston.