Kila Ka’aihue homers twice to lead Royals past Twins 10-1, send Minnesota to 5th straight loss

Ka’aihue’s 2 HRs lead Royals past Twins 10-1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — 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.

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.