Mauer Has Four Hit Game as Twins Top Royals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Joe Mauer hit a two-run homer in his first four-hit game in nearly two years, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 5-3 Saturday night.

Mauer, who is 13 for 28 against Royals starter Joe Blanton (2-2), homered with Brian Dozier aboard in a three-run first. Aaron Hicks' grounder scored Trevor Plouffe, who missed the cycle by a home run, with the other run.

Plouffe's tripled scored Mauer in the fifth to extend the lead to 4-0.

Glen Perkins pitched a flawless ninth for his major league-leading 27th save.

Twins starter Mike Pelfrey was chased after the Royals' first four hitters in the fifth reached base, the last on Lorenzo Cain's two-run single. Kendrys Morales drove in another run on a grounder to pull Kansas City to 4-3.

Brian Duensing (3-0), the second of seven Twins pitchers, was credited with the victory.