Ka'aihue's 2 HRs lead Royals past Twins 10-1
Kila Ka'aihue hit two home runs and drove in a career-high four runs to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 10-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins Tuesday night.
The Twins have dropped a season-high five straight since clinching the AL Central title on Sept. 21.
Ka'aihue hit a three-run homer in the first off Nick Blackburn (10-11), then led off the second with his seventh home run of the season. It was his first career multihomer game.
He almost had a third one in the seventh, sending a drive off the right-field bullpen fence for his first big league triple.
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Sean O'Sullivan (4-6) held the Twins to one run on five hits and six walks in six-plus innings.
Blackburn gave up eight runs on eight hits and two walks in 4 1-3 innings. He also balked home Mike Aviles, who led off the fifth with a triple for his third hit.
The Twins have allowed 46 runs in the five-game skid, the most in any five-game stretch since they gave up 52 June 14-18, 2003.
Ka'aihue also scored four runs, matching David DeJesus for the Royals' season high.
Notes: Kansas City beat the Twins 10-8 Monday night giving the Royals a double-digit total in back-to-back games for the first time since Sept. 8-9, 2006 at Boston. ... Twins DH Jim Thome returned to Minnesota to receive treatment on his back. ... Royals OF Mitch Maier (sore left knee) and INF Wilson Betemit (bruised shin) missed their third straight games. ... Royals rookie reliever RHP Blake Wood retired all six batters he faced, striking out the final four.
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