MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Brian Dozier hit his 25th home run of the season and the 100th of his career, leading Tyler Duffey and the Minnesota Twins over the Kansas City Royals 5-3 Saturday night and ending a four-game losing streak.
Dozier has 17 homers since June 25, most in the majors over that span. He also doubled and scored twice. Robbie Grossman added three hits, including a home run.
For the second time this season, the Twins homered three times off Royals starter Dillon Gee (4-6).
Eddie Rosario's two-run shot in the fifth inning put the Twins ahead 4-1. Dozier followed him with a towering drive deep into the second deck in left.
Duffey (8-8) won for the third time in three starts this month. He allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings, striking out six.
Ryan Pressly pitched a scoreless eighth and Brandon Kintzler allowed an unearned run in the ninth but held on for his 11th save in 12 chances.
The Twins took the lead quickly, as Dozier led off the first inning with a double and scored on Grossman's bad-hop single that skipped off first baseman Eric Hosmer's shoulder and into right field.
Cheslor Cuthbert tied the game in the third inning with his 10th home run of the season.
Grossman hit a leadoff home run in the fifth to put the Twins on top for good.
Gee gave up five earned runs on 11 hits and one walk in 5 1/3 innings.
BULLPEN SHUFFLE
The Twins switched lefties in their bullpen on Saturday, calling up Ryan O'Rourke from Triple-A Rochester and designating Andrew Albers for assignment. O'Rourke had a 4.91 ERA in eight appearances with the Twins earlier this season. Albers made one appearance for the Twins this season, giving up five runs in six innings of relief in the second game of a doubleheader against Houston on Thursday.
UP NEXT
LHP Hector Santiago will try to earn his first victory for the Twins on Sunday. Santiago (10-6), acquired from the Angels in a four-player trade on Aug. 1, has allowed eight earned runs in 10 1/3 innings in his first two starts for Minnesota, both losses. He'll face RHP Edinson Volquez (8-10), who is 0-2 with three no-decisions since July 9.